Glacier AU

Finally

  It's funny how life turns out.

  After meeting Nya at that dock, both of us losing someone we loved on that boat, we ended up falling for each other. 

  I still loved Zane, but I knew I had to move on, and Nya seemed like someone Zane would approve of. 

  The rest of my life since that crash changed tremendously. I became braver, more ambitious, and confident in my sexuality. This resulted in me being sent to jail several times for the protests I was involved in, but I didn't care. I felt comfortable in my own skin for once, and my friends and my wife accepted me.

  I lived in a simple apartment with Nya, Lloyd and Akita leaving down the street in a big fancy townhouse courtesy of their zoology discoveries.

  As well, I'm sadly enjoying something that I shouldn't be excited about. My ex-fiancée was arrested following a failed bank heist. Apparently, she was so desperate for money after I failed to proclaim it all, she turned to a short life of crime to survive.

  I almost felt bad for her. Almost.

  "Cole, do you mind breaking up the argument these two are having?" I turned to see my twin sons glare at each other from beside my wife.

  It took a lot of coaxing to get me to sleep with Nya, mainly from Lloyd who convinced me Zane wouldn't care I was sleeping with another person.

  Only one person knows my real identity, and that's Lloyd. We swore we would never reveal to anymore, even our wives, that I was secretly the son of one of the wealthiest men in all of America.

  "Kids, listen to your mother, that is the smart choice," I advised them both before turning back to my map I had in our drawing-room.

  I was planning our next family trip, somewhere exotic hopefully. The Caribbeans are nice, and Asia is stunning according to Akita. She has a brother who doesn't mind us staying there.

  "Cole, that's not how you solve an argument," Nya pointed-out with her arms crossed.

  I sighed, knowing it was pointless arguing with her.

  Life lesson for all men out there: Never argue with your wife when she looks tired or annoyed, or anyone in general. It never ends well.

  "Boys, what's wrong?"

  "Jay took my pants and is wearing them now!" My elder twin exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at his brother.

  "Kai, don't point, it's rude," their mother scolded him.

  "Jay, why did you take his pants?" I inquired.

  "I don't have any more pants!" Jay argued.

  I chuckled at my son's foolishness, reminding me all to well of who he was named after.

  I named each of my sons after two of my friends who died on the ship, but I couldn't bare naming any of them Zane. Seeing the name 'Zane Julian' on any piece of paper evoked memories of our time together, and I didn't want that associated with my children at all.

  "I'll leave you to your father while I check on your sister," Nya stated before walking down the hall to our baby daughter.

  At first, I couldn't think of who to name her after. I knew I didn't want some random name off the street, I wanted something with some sentimental value to me. 

  Then it dawned on me. I was going to name her after my dearly departed mother.

  "Father, why did you marry mom?" Kai asked once Nya disappeared into our daughter's room.

  "Come and sit down, I will tell you the story," I gestured for the boys to sit on a chair.

  I haven't told them about the crash, and I was waiting until they were old enough to understand it. I didn't want to burden them too early in life, but all things come to an end.

  I learned that in many ways.

--------------------------------

  Fifty years, or maybe it was more, passed by since the day I told my sons how I survived the Titanic and met their mother. 

  Now, I am lying on my death bed.

  My children surrounded the bed, all fully grown into adults and had children of their own already. They tried to act strong for their mother's benefit, but they were struggling to fight back tears. 

  Losing someone was never easy.

  The doctors have been telling them of my drastically declining health, how I only had months left to live.

  I lived for eight years after that, and I enjoyed every waking moment with my friends and family. 

  Sadly, Lloyd and Akita had passed on the year before, both dying in a plane crash off the border of some country far away. However, I knew they were fine with their deaths. They had cheated death so many times in their numerous adventures around the world, exploring and interacting with creatures I am too terrified to lay my eyes on.

  I stared at my loving, fateful wife, understanding the feeling of heartbreak she would face after this. I had, of course, experienced this feeling many years ago when my lover died.

  I loved my family, I regret leaving them all for the afterlife.

  On the other hand, I awaited death to come, anticipating its arrival. I've waited for nearly a century, I wanted to die so many times in the process. However, I stayed resilient to the end.

  I was prepared for the next chapter of my life, or rather, the epilogue of it all. 

  My life was a tragedy from the beginning, my mother's death hurting my father and I greatly. Then came the forced engagement to the tyrant called Clarissa. Afterwards, I thought I found freedom with Zane, but I was sadly wrong when the iceberg hit, being the unsuspected plot twist no one wanted. Then I met Nya, the next love of my life, who healed my broken heart one day at a time.

  Death didn't hurt as much as I thought when it came, it was more of the 'sweet release'. Everything shutting down slowly, your senses declining rapidly before you wake up in a floating abyss.

  However, that wasn't what the afterlife looked to me.

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  I saw him waiting, my heart fluttered at the sight of him in that old suit. 

  He stood against the stairs in the grand staircase of the very cruise ship he died in, smiling encouragingly as people clapped.

  I looked around, realizing everyone who died was cheering us on. I saw Kai, giving me an approving nod, Jay enthusiastically hollering, and Karloff, who usually acted stone-cold, smiled proudly.

  I walked towards Zane, my heartbeat increasing the closer I got to him. He looked exactly the same, light blond hair and crystal blue eyes sparkling in the chandelier lighting.

  "You've been waiting for me?" I questioned in mock surprise.

  "Always and forever," he clasped my hand and kissed me.

  (A/N: Thank you, everyone, who voted, commented, and supported this story in any way. When I first wrote this, I never had imagined so many people would read this. A big thanks to everyone! I enjoyed writing my version of the Titanic, especially because it included Ninjago. You guys can comment on what you want to see next, or if you just want a one-shot, go dm me and I'll post it on my 'One-shots Requests' story. I'll accept any Ninjago ships, canon and non, like Bruiseshipping, Greenwisp, etc.)

  Thank you, again! ReadWriteWhatever, signing off!