Fading {Book Two of The Descendants series}

Chapter Sixteen

"Please stop, sweetheart," Cole said in frustration as he walked back and forth across the room holding a screaming Amy. "Daddy and Mommy are so tired."

"I don't think I'm getting any sleep for the rest of the night," a sleepy looking Noah said as he walked into his parents room. "I'll take her if you want."

"You? Take Amy?" Cole asked blinking.

"Dad! I'm almost twenty-one! I can handle a baby!" Noah growled.

"I still don't accept the fact that you're that old," Cole said shaking his head. "But if you want to take her, then by all means pleeeaaasse do so! I'm so tired!"

"Okay, Dad," Noah said laughing. He took Amy from Cole. She immediately stopped crying.

"Seriously?!" Cole said. "Ugh. At least I can get some sleep."

Noah laughed and left the room. He carried Amy to his room and sat on his bed. The clock read five in the morning. He was a morning person, but he hadn't slept well last night and was still tired. Almost the entire rest of the ninja household were night owls though. This made mornings nice and quiet. The only other people up at this time were usually Zane, Jacqueline, Sensei Wu, and Sensei Garmadon. It was quiet nice actually.

"What are you doing up so early?" Garmadon asked as he peeked into Noah's open door.

"I'm usually up early," Noah said.

"Not this early," Garmadon said. Then he noticed Amy. "Ah, helping your parents?"

"My parents are really tired," Noah nodded. "Besides, it's good practice for the future."

"Don't rush into things," Garmadon smiled.

"I don't think you have to worry about me having kids anytime soon," Noah said shaking his head. "I am soon to be single."

Garmadon raised an eyebrow at him. Noah shrugged and looked down at his sister.

"Breakups are not easy," Garmadon said. "If you ever need another early bird to talk to, you know where to find me."

"Thank you, Sensei," Noah said.

*********************************

"Hey, Mr. Garmadon," Ella said walking in the door.

"Hi," Garmadon and Lloyd said at the same time. They looks at each other and started laughing.

"So why do you go by Garmadon if that's your last name?" Ella asked Sensei Garmadon.

"I don't like my name," Garmadon said waiving his hand.

"And yet," Lloyd said crossing his arms, "you gave it to me as my middle name."

"What's your birth name?" Ella asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not telling," Garmadon said.

"It's Montgomery," Lloyd got out before his father hit him in the stomach. "Oof! Dad! Too hard!"

"Get over it," Garmadon said nonchalantly. Ella laughed.

"If your looking for Noah," Kai said walking by. "He was in the training room."

"Thanks!" She shouted behind her as she took off toward the training room.

Ella ran past the living room nearly knocking Connor over. He jumped back and shouted something incoherent after her. She jumped and slid down the small stair banister and burst into the training room. She saw Jay jump and loose his focus. Noah took full advantage of the distraction and decked him.

"Hey! No fair!" Jay helped. "You sent your girlfriend in to distract me?"

"I didn't know she was coming," Noah said keeping Jay in a necklock.

"I hate you and your father's super strength," Jay said struggling to get out of Noah's grip.

"Ouch!" Noah yelped and quickly let go of Jay. "You're complaining about my super strength while ELECTROCUTING me!"

"Ya, what you gonna do about it," Jay said sticking his tongue out at Noah.

Noah looked him and crossed his arms. Jay looked slightly confused at his inaction.

"Maybe tell on you to Aunt Nya?"

"No! Don't do that!" Jay yelped.

"Oh my word," Ella said coming up beside Noah. She was slightly surprised when he didn't wrap his arm around her shoulder like he usually did. "You men."

"Whatever," Jay said leaving the room.

Ella stopped smiling and looked up at Noah, "What's wrong, Noah?"

"We need to talk," Noah said.

*********************************

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Ella yelled.

"You can't deny what's been happening!" Noah said keeping his voice firm but controlled. "You've lost interest as far as I can tell. Just now, I asked you simple question. I asked, 'Ella, has something been bothering you lately? You've seemed really distant lately.' And then you BLEW up. That right there worries me!"

Ella looked at him funny and realized her error. He had asked her a simple question and she had blown up like she was trying to hide something.

"Ella, what is going on?" Noah asked her pointedly.

"I-I-"

"Ella, do you still want to be with me?"

"YES!" She cried in anguish. "You think I'm cheating on you don't you?"

"I don't want to think that! But the signs are there!" Noah shouted.

"I'm sorry!" She shouted bursting into tears.

"Sorry for what?" Noah's heart clenched in fear.

"I'm sorry for acting the way I have! I promise that I am not cheating! I couldn't do that to you!" Ella sobbed.

"Then what is going on, Ella?"

"I got into some trouble!" She sobbed. "I've been trying to fix it but I can't! I didn't want to bother you with my mistake!"

She looked at Noah and he looked entirely unconvinced. She sobbed again. How was she going to convince him that she wasn't lying?

"Ella, I want to believe you," Noah said slowly. "But that's so far fetched! What could you have possibly done that would cause this behavior; and further more, couples don't worry about 'bothering' their significant others! What kind of person do you think I am to not want to deal with your-our-problems!"

"But that's the thing! It hasn't been your problem! It's been mine since before we met!"

"What on earth are you talking about?" Noah asked in confusion.

"Noah, you may want to sit down."

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I left you on a cliffhanger!! Mwahahahahahaha! I'm too excited to stop writing so I'll probably not leave you on it for very long. Enjoy! -LL_18