GAH BUSY WEEKEND... AND WEEK. ANYWAYS GUESS WHO HAD A BLAST AT THE MOVIES (it was actually pretty hectic cause there was a power surge on Friday during the movie - LIKE THIRTY MINUTES INTO IT - so we had to come back on Saturday to watch it)

'LOVE, SIMON' IS THE BEST MOVIE EVER, OKAY. IT IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE NOW. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT (AND HUGELY IMPORTANT TO ME), BEAUTIFUL, AND INSPIRATIONAL. IT IS A FREAKING MASTERPIECE. I COULD TYPE UP A WHOLE *insert number here* PAGE REVIEW ON IT. AND YES I SAID IT. FIGHT ME. (The last scene of this chapter was actually inspired by this amazing movie)

Now for the sad news... this is the last chapter :')

Thank you all so much for the wonderful support of this fic. I couldn't have done it without you :) It really means a lot to me. Thank you so so much for everything. It's been a great 20 chapters to share with you all and I hope to share more new ones with you sooner or later! I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have, and enjoy reading this final chapter :)

Love, Me (see what I did there?)

Jay gently pushed the door open, poking his head out. He slipped out of the room and made his way into the kitchen, his mind set on getting a breakfast. It was unbelievably quiet in the house and Jay was beginning to wonder that Lloyd and Cole had left somewhere without him. Lloyd had spent the night at their shared home last night, though technically he spent the entire week not at the Garmadon's house, and Jay was oh so thankful for the company.

He had begun to grow more flustered around Cole. The weirdest part was that he often found himself throwing compliments instead of comebacks at Cole. Sometimes, when he did bite back at the older man, he found them strangely odd. Even Lloyd could tell.

"Good morning to you too," came Lloyd's voice from behind.

"You're here? Wow. I uh, I thought you left somewhere." Jay cleared his throat. "Er, morning."

Lloyd waltzed into the kitchen and put a hand on the counter, leaning against it. "Jeez, really, Jay? You always think that." He opened one of the cabinet doors beside him and tossed a box of cereal in Jay's direction. Jay opened his mouth to speak but Lloyd cut him off instantly. "We're out of milk, by the way."

Jay shut his jaw and nodded. "Right. Thanks."

"Hurry and eat up. Party starts at noon."

"Mhmm," Jay agreed, pouring the cereal into the bowl. He reached to his right and whipped out a spoon, dropping it into the bowl. He slid into his seat, breakfast in front of him and started to eat. "More like picnic party, if you ask me. It's super sunny outside, and it's winter!"

"Still pretty cold though!" Lloyd called back to him as he slipped out of the kitchen.

When Jay finished his breakfast, he got up from his chair and started for his room, with a granola bar in his hand. As he made his way to the stairs, he passed by Cole's room and a thought crossed his mind.

He hadn't seen Cole since he woke up and Jay started to wonder if he was okay. Every morning since the Overlord, Cole had one snarky comment to hit Jay with. And this time, there wasn't one.

Jay stopped in front of Cole's door and just stared at it, questioning what he was doing and what he was about to do. Without even realizing it, Jay held his breath and raised a hand before the door, bracing himself to knock. He started to countdown in his head, starting from 5. The second he hit 1, his hand dove to give the door a steady knock.

"Uh, Jay. What are you doing?"

The brunette threw his hand up in the air and jumped backwards, scanning the hall for the blond who had scared him.

"Lloyd! What the heck, man?!"

His friend leaned casually against the other side of the hall with his hands in the pockets of his dirty green hoodie. A wicked smile crossed his face and Jay wanted to slap him.

Lloyd simply laughed in response while he looked Jay up and down. The fellow brunette was still in his pyjamas. "Go get changed, dude. We gotta leave for the party soon."

"I was just about to -"

As if Lloyd knew exactly what Jay was going to say, he butt in, saying, "Cole's not in there. In fact, he isn't even here."

Jay blinked out of confusion. "Huh?"

"I dropped him off at my Dad's earlier. He wanted to have a word with Cole." Lloyd fixed the hood and turned around. "Chances are, he's at the party already-"

"Oh. Well, okay," Jay pursed his lips in a slight pout and started for his bedroom to change out of his nighttime clothes.

"-waiting for his Bluebell."

Jay spun around on his heels and glared daggers at his friend. The boy in the green hoodie stood there with a hand over his mouth, trying hard to hold back from snickering. "Lloyd! What do I have to do to get you to shut up about this?"

Lloyd mumbled an 'I don't know' and walked away casually while telling Jay for the umpteenth time to get changed.

—-

"Do you think Cole knows?" Jay asked Lloyd nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

Lloyd flexed his fingers on the steering wheel and shot a glance at the mirror for any cars. The two were just a few minutes away from the park and judging by how many stop lights they had to get through to get to where they were now, they would probably be the last ones there. "Do I think Cole knows?" He repeated. He almost fell into laughter once more. "What kind of a question is that?"

"Gee, thanks, Lloyd."

The blond shook his head and cracked a grin, making a sharp turn to the right. "You being serious right now? Have you seriously not been paying attention to anything this past month?"

The brunette blinked. "... No?"

"Why don't you just go tell Cole you like him yourself, huh? Just tell him once we get there."

Jay scrunched his nose and pointed an accusing finger at Lloyd. "But what if- you know, what if things don't go 'swell'? What if something bad happens?!"

"You really get worked up over the smallest things, Jay. It's amazing how long you've gone without noticing any of the hints Cole's been dropping."

"Excuse me?!"

"What?"

"You're telling me that I've been missing something for a whole month!? Is it that obvious?!" Jay dragged a hand across his face and groaned. "You suck, Lloyd!"

"So do you, Jay," the other tossed out slyly and stopped the car. "Looks like we're here." Jay's eyes spotted Garmadon and Cole in the distance, talking under a large tree while the others were playing some sort of game on the other end of the park. It almost looked like charades? Jay stiffened when Lloyd gave Jay a friendly pat. "Go big or go home, buddy."

"Oh! Um, a librarian?" Kai yelled, jumping to his feet.

Chief leaned forward and cast a glance at Kai. "A librarian? Kai, I don't think I am following your logic here."

"It's clearly a mom yelling at her kids to do their chores. I've been there many times." Ronin visibly shivered. "Poor kids."

"Ronin, no." Cyrus chuckled, relaxing his shoulders till they touched the back of his wheelchair.

Nya shook her head once more and made another effort to act out her card.

Zane, however, had been silent the entirety of the round, taking in every little aspect of Nya's moves and facial expressions. He thought he would get it by now, but either Nya was horrible at charades, or he just couldn't pinpoint it.

Just then, Garmadon's hand went up in the air in a flash, startling everyone, including Nya. "Scuba diver."

"Coooorrrect! Man, the rest of you guys stink at this," she joked and took a position between her brother and Zane. She leaned over to her friend and whispered, "Can't believe you didn't get that one, Zane. I was trying to make it easy for ya."

"Are you sure you aren't just bad at it?" Nya scoffed at Zane's joking insult and rolled her eyes.

"Mmm. Positive."

Kai sauntered up to the center 'stage', tearing the hat out of Ronin's hands. "Wow, Chief. Nice job!" Kai commented as he fished in the hat for the next word.

However, the Chief wasn't listening, as his attention was drawn only to the young man hiding behind a tree. It had been four rounds since they started and Cole was still at the same spot as before.

See, before they moved into a game of charades, Garmadon had told Cole about his decision. His decision to let Cole free. Just like Jay, Lloyd had refused to tell Cole the news, so the Chief took it to tell Cole himself. After all was said and done, Cole did not quite display the reaction that Garmadon had hoped. Then, Cole insisted that he not join charades and Garmadon began to grow heavily worried. He figured that must be the reason why Cole was sulking all by himself in the shade, a good distance from everyone else.

Garmadon broke away from the game and started towards Cole. At the tree, he placed a hand on the trunk and craned his head around to get a better view of Cole.

"We could use one more player at charades. Everyone is horrible at it," Garmadon started, trying to spark a conversation. "You loved charades as a kid. Remember?"

"That was way back when." Cole grumbled, keeping his eyes on the clear, blue, sky. "What are you doing here? Didn't you guys just start a new round?"

Garmadon tilted his head left and shrugged. "What about you? Is there something on your mind, Cole?"

"Just thinking about some stuff."

The Chief's brows drew closer with concern. "If you're not ready to leave-"

"It's not. I just. It only just feels like my time - my life, after being released from prison just started. Not to mention the one person who matters a lot to me…"

"No one is forcing you to leave, Cole. You are your own person. It's your choice."

"But what about Jay? And, and living myself? It just sounds so daunting." Cole ran his fingers through his hair defiantly. "And what if I don't want to make that choice? What if I can't make a choice?"

Garmadon could sense a distress in his voice and he ran his hands along Cole's arms, smiling warmly at him. "I need you to hear this, Cole: You're a good person. You always have been. And I should know, because I've known you for years. And all those mistakes in the past were just the remnants of the Cole I hated to see. The Cole who was lost and confused. But that's not who you are anymore. You have friends now. Friends around the same age. You have us." Garmadon looked Cole dead in the eyes. "There's no reason to feel pressured into leaving now. If you're not ready, then that's okay. I can cancel the apartment and everything else."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"Don't worry, Cole. I just need you to tell me if you change your mind, okay?" He gave Cole's shoulder a comforting squeeze, and the other smiled in response. "Speaking of…"

Garmadon nodded his head at the car which had just pulled up. The front doors swung open and both Jay and Lloyd waved with at them with large grins on their faces. With a hearty pat on Cole's back, Garmadon flew past him to his son with arms wide open.

Cole spun around, catching Jay's eyes from across the field. He mumbled something to himself as the brunette's moved towards him. As Jay drew nearer, he noted the sky blue sweater wrapped around his body, something that was matched with a darker blue scarf which hugged his neck, just enough to get comfortable. The brown curls on his head bounced lightly when the brunette came to a halt in front of him, eyes sparkling with disbelief.

"Hey!"

"Bout time, Bluebell," Cole started, stuffing his hands in his sweater pockets, "Been waiting for a while for you to show up."

"You were?" Jay cleared his throat and tossed him a lopsided grin. "Well, you know, it ain't a party till I walk in! Right?" He playfully bumped Cole's arm, then realization hit him. Cole looked at him in question.

"Heeeeeyy, what happened to the right sleeve always being torn? I can't see that arm anymore." To Cole, Jay sounded disappointed. "It made you look tough, you know?"

"Oh, change in wardrobe." Jay frowned at him. "Not a fan?"

"I like the arm, Cole. It makes you look cool." Jay tucked his hands behind his back and looked around innocently. "Sooooooo since you weren't home earlier… you got anything to say to me? You usually always do. Like, every morning."

"Wow, you really want one, hmm?"

"Just come up with something! A day isn't complete without our mini banters, right?"

"Err, not today, Jay."

"Not today?" Jay's expression fell and he punched Cole's arm twice. "Meanie."

Cole chuckled softly. "You're the meanie."

Jay laughed when Cole nudged him back. "Hey, did Lloyd tell you about-"

"Chief Garmadon did, actually." Cole stated. He masked his sadness with a joyous attitude.

Jay spared a glance at his friend. "Oh. Well. Hah, that's nice."

Cole patted Jay on the back, then went to thwack his head. "You made it… Congratulations, Bluebell. I'm impressed."

"Yeah." It was brief and short and Cole started to grow worried. "Guess since you don't have to stay with us anymore… No more having someone constantly watching over you, right?"

"Yeah…" Cole's face showed concern and he turned to Jay. The way he spoke… There was this, there was something different about Jay's voice this time. Cole had sensed it - a softness in his voice, something that hinted to him that Jay was not happy with the Chief's decision. "You alright?"

Jay shook his head once, then twice, trying to snap out of his many thoughts. "I'm cool. Let's uh, let's grab some root beer." Lies.

Did Jay feel the same way he did?

Knowing that Jay probably wouldn't have wanted to talk about his problems at this time, Cole nodded and followed Jay to the table, keeping a mental reminder to ask Jay about earlier.

"Then maybe join whatever they're playing over there?" Jay cleared his throat. "Come on!"

Later that night, Jay and Cole were having dinner - just the two of them. Lloyd had gone home to spend time with his father and uncle, who he hadn't seen for a long time. The whole time, Jay could only think about one thing. And that was, when would Cole be leaving? Jay was the first one to finish his meal too, and so he pushed in his chair and started out of the kitchen, leaving Cole the last person downstairs.

After Cole finished, he had taken the liberty to fetch a slice of cake from the fridge. It wasn't normal for Jay to stay quiet, especially all throughout dinner. And Cole didn't want to think too hard about it. In fact, the brunette had been acting differently the entire day. Finishing the last of his cake, Cole turned the lights in the kitchen off and started for the stairs.

As he strode by the couch, he caught a glimpse of the porch lights, bright and blinding. Cole stopped and peered out the window at to what was going on outside.

His stomach sunk when he saw Jay sitting on the steps with his head in his hands.

Cole opened the door and stepped outside, doing so slowly, not wanting to startle Jay. "Knock, knock, Bluebell." He said gently, striding towards him.

"Oh fun, more company." Jay said with a roll of his eyes.

Cole snorted and leaned against the pole. "What's up, man?"

"Man?." Jay kept his eyes on the ground and grunted. "S'nothing."

"You said nothing was bothering you during the party, then you hardly said a word during dinner, and now-" Cole waved his arms as if presenting Jay.

"I'm just a little upset, that's all." Jay stared down at his feet, swaying them from side to side. "I wasn't really ready for you to leave just yet. But I guess life just hates me." He chuckled softly, never letting his eyes leave sight of his feet.

He heard Cole sigh beside him and the shuffling of feet. The other was now sitting next to Jay on the porch under the light, feet outstretched just like the brunette's were. He leaned back on his hands and cocked his head to the side.

"You didn't really expect me to just waltz out of your home the moment you stopped having to 'baby' me anymore, did you? -"

Jay's eyes widened. "Well… um, did you want me to?"

"- Because I thought you were smarter than that, Bluebell." He went on as if Jay hadn't said a thing.

Jay's faced turned a light shade of red as he played with the ends of his scarf. He ducked his head away from Cole, fighting the blush that crawled up. "Guess I just can't think straight… you know?"

Cole snickered and Jay dropped his head to the ground while he bit the inside of his cheek nervously. "When do you ever?" Cole finally said. Jay scoffed and ran a shaky hand through his curly locks. He was taken by surprise and was slightly shocked when Cole leaned closer. "Good news is, I'm not going anywhere. I talked to Chief Garmadon about it and I'm staying. Here with you."

That was when it all happened -

Cole swooped down and pecked Jay softly on the cheek.

A gentle, brush, touch of his lips on Jay's freckled covered cheek.

The brunette's face heated up undeniably quick at the unforeseen sign of affection and there were no room for excuses now. He dropped his hands almost immediately, daring to look up at Cole. Had Cole really just-? Jay shook his head but the red all over his face still would not go away.

"Wh-What was that for?" He managed to ask, a stutter for every other word.

"Is just a little something. That's all."

Jay shrunk beneath his scarf until it was covering his mouth. "A little? Something? A kiss?" Though his voice was muffled by the scarf, Cole could still make out his words.

"Well, yeah. Hell, it's been practically a month. Bout time I did something about it." Cole spared the brunette a smile before adding, "Besides, you look like you needed it."

Jay's eyes grew large. "A month? As in you've had this crush on me for a month?"

Cole nodded shyly. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"I mean, yeah."

"Woah… 'Yeah'? What's that mean?" Cole stared at Jay, embarrassed and ashamed but awaiting an answer. The brunette still wasn't looking at him, and Cole huffed under his breath.

Jay then stole a glance at Cole, thinking long and hard about his next move. Something rang in his ears and he could tell Cole was calling out to Jay repetitively, but all the brunette could hear now was the sound of his heart thumping in his chest, the wild beating driving him crazy. Go big or go home, Lloyd had said to him. He braced himself.

Without another second to lose, he leaned closer to Cole slowly but surely, bending his head a bit to reach where he needed to be and closed his eyes-

-closing the gap between him and Cole.

The kiss was sudden but it was real - a passionate taste of bliss, and Jay was sure Cole was dumbstruck by his course of action. On the other hand, Jay felt relieved. His hand grabbed Cole's bionic arm firmly and immediately as he used it to keep the two of them from falling over. However, Jay's hand loosened and trickled down Cole's arm till it fell over Cole's own hand. Out of thought, he laced his fingers with Cole's and continued to lean closer to the other.

He did it.

He really, actually did it.

But it didn't last long, seeing how the brunette pulled away gently, keeping his eyes trained on Cole's green ones.

They sat like that in silence for a good whole minute, only studying each other's eyes for the entirety of the time.

In this minute, the two saw things they never accounted for before. Jay, for one, never noticed the tint of blue in Cole's eyes before. It made them somewhat more alive, and more unique. Cole, on the other hand, noticed how faded the blue orbs were as they rounded the top, but it didn't stop there, as there was a small twinkle in his eyes, making his heart leap in his chest.

Jay couldn't help it and he broke into a grin. The widest, happiest, grin he'd felt in months.

"I love you, Cole!" Jay blurted out. "I don't know how long it's been going on, but I love you, and I, I don't want you to leave." Cole stared at him, speechless. Even if he had something to say, he wouldn't have gotten a chance to as Jay just continued to drawl on. "I never said anything because I wasn't sure. I didn't know if these feelings were real, or if they were just… there. But I know now. I know what my heart is telling me, and it-"

Jay had shut his mouth the minute Cole had braced him for a hug. He never got to finish, but that didn't matter anymore to him. Cole was actually happy - like, genuinely happy. The kind of happy that made Jay's heart flutter.

Then, there was a rather surprising choking sound.

"Woah. Woah, woah, woah!" Jay drew his arms back. "Cole, are you crying?"

Cole blinked suddenly. "No!" He hiccuped. "Yes. No - agh." He picked at the tears in his eyes. "It's just kind of - I'm not sad, alright?"

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No! Jay, no!" Cole lifted an arm and wiped at the tears that had splotched his face. "I can't… I don't deserve this."

"Bull." Jay stated clearly.

Cole blinked at Jay as if he was staring at someone completely new.

"Of course you deserve this, Cole."

"It's hard to believe."

"Not to me." Jay noted, drying a tear.

"You're too good and I'm just…" Cole inhaled a shaky breath, "I'm just a screw up, you know? I had no friends growing up, I ran away, I left my parents. And, and I tried to fight back but got this instead," Cole motioned to his arm, "I lived on the run for a year and then I put the lives of Lloyd, Garmadon, and you in danger… Oh god, my life is a mess."

"So what? That was in the past. You need to move on, Cole. You're free now. No more holding back from anything or anyone."

Jay shot his friend a genuine smile, putting his hand over his and running his thumb along Cole's fingers. He gently squeezed the other's hand when Cole returned the smile.

"You deserve everything, Cole."

With that, it was Jay's turn to pull Cole in for firm embrace.