“Jaaaaaaaaaaaay?”
Jay groaned, his voice muffled as he pulled the blanket over his head. “What?”
“I need help,” came Mia’s tiny but oh-so-serious voice.
“With what?” Jay mumbled, not fully awake.
Mia let out a deep sigh, a sigh so dramatic it seemed impossible it came from a five-year-old. “Never mind. I’ll just take the cookies out of the oven myself.”
That got Jay’s attention. “Cookies?” he repeated, the word slowly working its way through his groggy mind.
Mia nodded innocently, though her mischievous grin betrayed her. “Yeah, cookies. They might be a little... crispy, but it’s fine.”
Jay sat up, blinking blearily at the doorway where Mia stood. And then it hit him, like lightning striking his brain. Cookies. Oven. Mia.
“Wait, cookies?!”
Mia tilted her head, her expression as sweet as sugar. “Uh-huh. I think they’re ready now.”
Jay leaped out of bed like his life depended on it, his feet barely touching the floor as he bolted toward the hallway. “You were baking?! Mia, no! You’re five! What were you thinking?!”
Mia trailed after him, shrugging casually. “I wanted cookies. And I was gonna make you some too... but it’s fine if you don’t want any.” She sounded genuinely offended, which only made Jay panic more.
“Mia, you’re not supposed to touch the oven!” he shouted over his shoulder as he sprinted to the kitchen, his mind racing with visions of flames, smoke, and the fire department showing up at their house. “Please, oh First Spinjitzu Master, let the kitchen still be standing…”
Jay skidded into the kitchen and froze, his eyes darting around wildly. No flames. No smoke. The stove was still intact.
And there on the counter sat a tray of cookies—slightly overcooked but otherwise harmless.
Mia climbed up onto a chair, crossing her arms as she eyed Jay like he was the unreasonable one. “See? I told you it was fine. You’re so dramatic.”
Jay let out a shaky breath, clutching his chest as he leaned against the counter. “Mia, you just shaved years off my life! Never, *never* touch the oven again!”
Mia pouted. “But I wanted to surprise you! You love cookies.”
Jay groaned, running a hand through his messy hair. “I do, but not at the cost of burning down the house! Next time, ask for help *before* you decide to channel your inner master chef, okay?”
Mia grinned. “Okay, Jay. But... you’re eating these cookies. I worked hard on them.”
Jay eyed the slightly charred cookies and sighed in defeat. “Fine. But next time, *we* bake together. Deal?”
“Deal!” Mia beamed, holding out a cookie for him. “Try it! They’re a little crunchy, but still good!”
Jay took the cookie with a wary expression, biting into it slowly. It was... not the worst thing he’d ever eaten. “It’s... not bad.”
Mia puffed up with pride. “Told you! I’m a natural.”
Jay shook his head, ruffling her hair. “Yeah, yeah. Just promise me no more surprises like this, okay?”
Mia smirked. “No promises.”
Kai and Lloyd shuffled into the kitchen, both yawning and rubbing their eyes. Kai squinted at the light, his fiery hair sticking out in every direction. “Jay… it’s two in the—” He stopped mid-sentence, his nose twitching. “Wait. Who made cookies?”
