Chapter Text
Lloyd didn’t know how to feel about going home. He was stupid for getting up and leaving in the first place, there was no guarantee that everyone wouldn't be mad, but there also was no guarantee that they would be mad either.
This was also tricky because of Akita, Kataru would likely join along, but Lloyd didn’t want to be the reason that they had to leave their home for so long. Lloyd didn’t know what to think about anything anymore.
Almost a month had passed and while Akita wasn’t pressuring him into deciding anything, it was obvious that his time was running out. Lloyd groaned as he stood up from his chair, he had to make a choice whether he wanted to or not. He was going to have to make the right one for him and his child.
===
Cole was ready to lose his shit. Here they were, with a note, a gi that was still missing, a pregnancy test, yet they were still nowhere near close to finding Lloyd.
“How does someone just disappear?” Cole questioned, and Nya shrugged her shoulders.
“Last time a microchip went off the grid was when we either lost connection, or we traveled to another realm,” Nya said, and Kai paused.
Kai smacked his face, ignoring the sting that followed. “Why didn’t we realize sooner?” He groaned out, annoyed.
“Realize what?” Jay asked, and Kai turned to Zane.
“Lloyd has a Travelers Tree in his room, he must have gone to another realm,” Kai spelled it out for the others, who immediately realized how dense they were.
“Guess we’re going realm hunting,” Cole joked with a half smile.
===
Lloyd zipped his bag closed with the last of his things. He finally told them. When he had done it, he told Akita and Kataru that he had to return to Ninjago.
Thankfully, they had understood that he had his family, his whole support system, and his home was there. Kataru had agreed that halfway through, he would go to Ninjago for the birth, and Akita and Lloyd found it to be reasonable.
Lloyd put on a hoodie, hiding his bump slightly, he didn’t know if they would be teleported in the monastery, or if they would be sent to Ninjago City. Just in case, he would need to keep the pregnancy on the down low as much as possible.
===
Kai had all the necessary materials and had even brewed the tea when a random portal opened in their courtyard. Kai was as astonished as the rest of them as Akita stepped through the portal and Lloyd meekly followed.
Kai ran up to Lloyd and bear hugged him, being mindful of his stomach. “Lloyd, oh you’re okay!” He whispered as he held Lloyd.
Lloyd clutched Kai’s gi in his hands, crying slightly as he let go. “I’m sorry, I just…I don’t know. I just panicked,” he admitted and Kai wiped the tears from Lloyd’s eyes.
Kai sighed out as everyone else finally joined them outside. “It’s okay grasshopper, it’s okay.” Lloyd couldn’t help but laugh shakily at the nickname.
Nya, Jay, Zane, and Cole walked out, and Lloyd took the time to hug each other as Akita stood behind Lloyd, smiling at the reunion.
As Lloyd began to hug and talk to everyone else, Cole walked over to Akita. He smiled at her and she smiled politely.
“Is the kid yours?” Cole asked, looking at the Formling with curiosity.
Akita looked a bit embarrassed as she nodded. “It was a shock when he came to the Never Realm. He missed all of you, but he was scared,” she said, looking at Cole, who had a sad look on his face.
“I can’t even imagine how he must be feeling. I feel terrible, he had just started feeling confident about himself,” Cole kicked a pebble, and Akita looked saddened, “he’ll come around. Once this is all settled we can figure out preparing for a new kid,” Cole chucked, remembering back to when Lloyd was only 9. He’d been small and scrawny, yet was a ball full of energy, ironic, considering energy was his element.
Akita hummed, looking at Lloyd with a gentle expression. “We can figure it out one step at a time.”