***Y'all, I had to do research on all sorts of topics for this chapter. Let me know if you notice any factual errors <3***

***(Jay's POV)***

"How far along are you, sweetie?" mom asks, resting her hands on Nya's tummy like there's actually a baby in there.

Oh my gosh.

Nya's not pregnant, yet my mom...she thinks...

I struggle for words. "Mom, Nya's not...we didn't tell you about a baby because...there..." I swallow hard at the hopeful look on her face.

I may be able to pretend that Nya's my serious girlfriend, but there's no way I can pretend there's a baby.

Nya gently removes my mom's hands from her belly. "I'm...uh...not having a baby, Mrs. Walker."

My mom places a hand over her heart. "You're...not?"

"No," Nya says sympathetically.

My mom pales, and I panic. She had a heart attack a few years ago, but she pulled through and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. She's very susceptible to stress.

I take her by the shoulders. "Mom? Are you okay?" I can't help the fear that creeps into my voice. "Let's have you sit down for a moment." I guide her over to an empty seat at one of the bingo tables.

Nya follows behind me. "Is she...all right?"

"Just dizzy," my mom says quietly, clenching her eyes shut.

I swallow. "It's the stress, isn't it? Is your heart feeling fluttery?" I think back through the heart attack symptoms her doctor told me to watch out for. "Have you been forgetting to take your medication again? You and dad were supposed to be writing reminder notes!"

"I forgot," she simply says, taking deep breaths.

Nya bends down in front of her. "What can I do to help?"

"It's just stress," my mom exhales.

I think quickly. "Uh, what Nya meant to say, mom, is that...we're not having one baby. We're having twins." Oh my gosh, I have no choice but to lie here to save my mom's life!

"Two?" she asks, steadying herself.

Nya glares at me, but says begrudgingly, "Yes. We're pregnant with...twins. That's why I said we weren't having a baby."

I shoot her an 'omigosh, my mom owes you her life' look. "Yeah. Um, so Nya and I...actually found out she was pregnant about a week ago, but we were really concerned about early issues with the baby, so...we didn't tell you until we got an ultrasound today. Uh, a six-week ultrasound. She's six weeks pregnant." I nod emphatically. I am so glad I sit next to a mom in my Terrorism and Homeland Security course. She explains more pregnancy whatnot than I want to hear, but it's coming in handy now.

Nya sighs heavily, forcing a smile for Edna. "Yes. And...that ultrasound showed..."

"Two yolk sacs," I jump in for her. Again, that gossipy mom with no sense of personal privacy is a literal lifesaver.

My mom frowns. "But...you said you weren't having a baby."

"Because we're having two," I reassure her. "I'm, uh, sorry for the misunderstanding there."

She wipes at the corner of her eye, her breathing more regular now. "It's okay. I'm just glad there's a baby. And now there are two, meaning you'll need your father and me to help, I'm sure." She gives me a weak smile.

Gosh, I feel remorse for lying. "I...you're right, mom. Are you feeling better now? Your color's seeming to return."

She nods. "Momentary panic. By gosh, not only did we get to meet your fiancée today, but we also figured out you're having children." She wipes at her eyes again.

"Oh, no, mom," I argue, biting my lip. "Nya and I aren't engaged...yet."

"Well, yes, but you're having a baby, Jay. Two of them. I think it's high time you manned up and asked the big question. Don't you want to be a father to your kids? And a husband to Nya? She's such a sweetie." I can see she's recovering from her anxiety quickly.

You don't know her like I do. "I...would love to marry Nya," I blush. "But now's not the best time to plan a wedding, in my opinion. We don't have much money, you know, and we're saving for our...twins." Oh First Spinjitzu Master above, what I wouldn't do for some holy help right about now.

"The Gordons would be happy to help, Jay," Edna smiles. "Maybe you could have a double wedding with Cliff and Libby! Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Yes," I say carefully. "Uh, listen, if you're feeling better, Nya and I need to go have a talk. Tell dad immediately if you feel any chest pain or tightening or have trouble breathing, okay?" I kiss her cheek before rising and looking down at Nya.

She shoots me a look that's half-scowl, half-serious, before heading back out the doors we came through.

I follow closely behind her. "Nya – "

"I can't believe this is happening," she monotones.

"I know," I say quickly. "And I want to thank you for saving my mom's life back there. She really does have heart issues, and – "

"Jay, the truth is going to come out at some point." Nya turns toward me. "You can fake a girlfriend or fiancée, but not a baby. Definitely not two babies."

"I know," I pacify her. "I know. But I wasn't just about to let my mom die."

"What happens when you dash all her hopes because there aren't any babies?" she exclaims. "Jay, I've faked a lot of things for you today, but I am not faking a miscarriage."

"I never asked you to!" I scoff. "That's really wrong!"

"So is lying to your aging mother about a fiancée and future grandkids! Gosh!" She massages the bridge of her nose.

"Look, Nya, I know you're upset right now, but I'm working out the particulars here. I will tell my parents the truth, but not when my mom's in danger of dying!"

She grabs my wrists. "You're putting your mom in danger of dying by even being involved with me! Don't you realize how much stress she's already endured today because you decided to sit down and have a cup of coffee with me? And to think, she wasn't even around for the train incident!"

"I'm sorry, okay?" I yell. "I'm not the one who decided to run when a friendly guy offered to chat over mochas!"

"You told me you knew about my record!" she retorts, her eyes fierce.

I take a deep breath, counting to three in my head and calming my demeanor. "Okay. You're right. I shouldn't have started by telling you I knew your darkest secrets. I never write romance where someone begins a conversation with that, so I don't know why I went there. It's just...I guess I've been getting up the guts a long time now to speak with you, and then I didn't want you to leave. I was willing to say anything to get you to stay, and it seemed right." I stroke her fingers where they rest on my wrist. "I really do love you."

"You keep saying that," she sighs.

"Do you believe it yet?" I ask.

"No."

"Then I'll just have to say it again and again until I finally wear you down." I close my eyes, shaking my head in remorse. "I'm sorry about the fake baby. Babies."

"Don't apologize to me," she eventually says, letting go of my wrists. "We need to take your mom someplace safe and comfortable and tell her the truth."

"You're right," I nod. "Maybe I can set her up with her doctor. Um, if you'd be willing to come with me to break the news there..." I look at her hopefully. I do not want to be the one to take all the blame for fake children.

"I should probably leave Ninjago City and never come back," she says frankly. "I can't manage to escape my past anywhere, apparently."

"But I'm here," I try. "And it's only me who knows who you are, so you don't have to worry about being turned in. I can help get you absolved of some of your charges, maybe. I asked you earlier if Kai was the reason you robbed those places and hurt those bystanders. And I know traces of street drugs were found in the getaway car you ditched, so you were probably under the influence of something."

"It wasn't Kai's fault," she mumbles.

I frown. "A guy was caught on security camera with you, but he was dressed head to toe in black. He was about the same height and build as your brother, so he would be the logical suspect, right? But no traces of his DNA were found in the car. That's why Kai's off free."

She chews her lip as though debating telling me something, then finally gives up. "You weren't assigned to work that case, so you wouldn't know, but the detectives who checked out those bank robberies covered up some evidence. They feared a higher-up would fire them...or worse."

"Then who was with you during the robberies?" I ask. "According to the record I found, you had no relatives except Kai, no boyfriend – "

"And that's where you're wrong," she interjects, releasing a strangled breath. "It isn't common knowledge – except among a few friends I had at the time – but I did have a boyfriend. The only person who was willing to testify to that was Kai – everyone else was coerced into silence by Ignacia's new police chief."

"Why?" I frown.

"The guy I was dating dropped me when things got tough. His name is Cole Brookstone – I think he's married to the police chief's daughter now."

***So before you go asking, "Why wasn't it common knowledge that Nya was dating Cole?"...

He was a year ahead of her when she was a senior, meaning that they didn't date at school.

Also, Kai limited the time the two could spend together because he didn't like Cole.

And the people who did know Cole and Nya were dating were not the kinds of people to say anything to the police. They were too concerned about facing their own problems if they confronted the cops.

Finally, the Ignacian PD is really corrupt. Even though evidence pointed to Cole in this case, it was ignored or covered up in all police reports and such. When rumors spread around the Internet about Nya having a boyfriend/Cole being at fault, the police chief denounced them.

Just remember that people believe what they want to believe.***