Author's Note: Okay, this is the start of the one-shots I mentioned at the end of What Makes A Mother. The events are in semi-chronological order. Some might take place before What Makes A Mother (like this first one for example), but most take place in between What Makes A Mother and the second book.

Speaking of the second book, I know I said I wasn't going to start publishing that until April because I was going to Thailand, but there's been a development. Thanks to the coronavirus, I can't go. I was going to fly on Korean Air, but last night I learned that I would have to endure a 14-day quarantine before I could do anything. I could try and book a flight on a Middle Eastern airline, but because of how the virus is spreading there, I don't want to risk it. The virus is also starting to gain a real footing in Thailand, and I don't want to risk getting stuck there because the U.S. won't let me back in, so I will have to postpone my trip until the fall or next spring. All I can do is hope I get at least a partial refund on my tickets, which may or may not happen because there's no official travel ban or travel restrictions. Yet.

All of this means that I will be able to start publishing the second book much sooner than I thought I would. I might start that next week, I have not yet decided. I have enough of these one-shot stories planned out to get me through until April, but I might end up going back and forth between Days Off and the second book. Time will tell.

Anyway, enjoy.

Anna watched as Cole played with his food. She wondered if having a picnic was a good idea. It was a beautiful day outside, and there were lots of other families also picnicking, but the three-year-old boy was distracted by everything from the other kids to the ants crawling on the blanket. He was currently holding one of the squares of his cut-up peanut butter and jelly sandwich in his hand as he watched a beetle crawl on his leg.

"You need to eat your sandwich," Anna reminded Cole.

"I am," Cole said as he shoved the whole sandwich square into his mouth.

"Smaller bites, Cole, or you'll choke. What would your father think?"

"Ah theawy."

"I can't understand you when you talk with your mouth full. Chew, swallow, then talk."

Cole looked dejected as he swallowed. He held her gaze as he silently grabbed another sandwich square and bit it in half.

As they ate, a nearby family caught Anna's eye. There was a young couple with a boy around Cole's age who had spiky hair and a little girl who was maybe a year old. The boy kept looking at her but quickly looked away if Anna returned his gaze.

As Anna packed up the picnic stuff, the boy and his mother walked over. He acted shy, but his mother nudged him forward.

"'Scuse me, are you a real soldier?"

"I am a real soldier," Anna said. She had almost forgotten she was wearing her uniform. She had meant to change into something more comfortable, but there wasn't time before she had to pick Cole up from the babysitter.

"Cool! Do you shoot people?" The boy stepped closer.

"No. I fly aeroplanes really high and really fast."

"Woah! Mama, can I do that?"

"Maybe when you're older, Kai." His mom smiled at him.

"Aww. I wanna do it now!"

"Anna, can I go play?" Cole asked.

"Are you done eating?" Anna asked, eying the carrot sticks he hadn't touched.

"Yeah."

"Yes, you may play. Stay where I can see you," Anna said.

"Me too, Mama? Can I play?" Kai asked.

"Go on."

The two boys ran off.

"I'm Maya, by the way."

"Anna."

"Your son is cute. And well behaved," Maya said as she helped Anna clean up.

"Thank you." Anna did not feel like correcting her. Besides, in six weeks, that would all change.

"Is his dad at work?"

"Yes. He works weekends, I usually have them off, so usually it's just me and the lad."

"That sounds rough."

"Eh. It does make weekends like this harder."

"Weekends like this?"

"I have an air show tomorrow. His dad is trying to get off tomorrow, but we have to wait and see." Anna prayed Lou could get off. She knew Cole hated babysitters and daycare. He had seemed both relieved and disappointed that she was the one to collect him that day and not Lou.

As the two watched their kids, a third boy who looked a little younger than Kai came running up to the two boys. Kai and Cole didn't seem to mind and the three were soon playing airplanes together.

A few minutes later, Maya's husband slowly helped their daughter walk over to them. The little girl reached out for her mom.

"Hello, little miss." Maya took her daughter.

"Kaaa," The little girl tried to escape her mother's grasp.

"No, you can't go running after your brother," Maya said. She placed her pouting daughter in her lap.

"Now she is adorable," Anna said.

"Did you hear that, Nya? Yeah? This is my husband, Ray."

"Hi. I'm Anna."

"Hello. A soldier, huh? What do you do?" Ray asked.

"I'm a fighter pilot."

"Really? Neat."

"Apparently, there's an air show tomorrow. I think we should go," Maya told her husband.

"And what about Dr. Saunders? We told him we would visit the museum. He even gave us those free passes."

"We could go now and go to the air show tomorrow. Besides, I think Kai would enjoy the air show a lot more than the history museum," Maya said. She gestured over to where the three boys were playing airplanes.

"True."

"If you do come, I'll be in plane number four," Anna said.

"Okay. I've never heard of a woman in the demonstration squadron before," Maya said.

"I'm the second ever. It's an extremely exclusive squadron and competition is fierce."

"Ah."

"Maya, if you want to go to the museum today, you best go get Kai," Ray said.

"I will."

They looked up to see the three young boys talking to a teenager with blonde hair. Something about the teen seemed off to Anna. She jumped up and headed over to the kids, Maya on her heels. Anna saw an older woman, possibly the third boy's grandmother, also walking towards the group.

"Kai, it's time to go," Maya said.

"Aww," Kai pouted.

"Say bye to your friends."

"Bye." Kai held his mother's hand as they left.

By this time, the other woman arrived on the scene.

"Jay, sweetie, you know you're not supposed to talk to strangers."

"But-" Jay protested as she took his hand.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to cause alarm. I am Zane."

"It's fine," Anna lied. Even though she highly doubted this guy worked for Morgen, a teen talking to a bunch of little kids didn't sit right with her.

"I don't wanna go!" Jay yelled as he was dragged away.

"Cole, it's about time to go meet your father," Anna said.

"Okay." Cole took her hand and walked back over to their stuff. Ray, Maya, and their kids were still there packing up.

"Bye," Kai said.

"Bye," Cole replied.

"Maybe you two will see each other again. We come to the City many weekends," Maya explained.

"Maybe," Anna said.

The two families parted ways.

At the airfield the next day, the two families did meet up briefly after the show. Cole was excited to play with his new friend, but Ray and Maya couldn't stick around as they had to return home.

"Maybe we will see each other again. We usually come to Ninjago City about once a month," Maya explained.

"Maybe. We are moving in a few weeks, though," Anna replied.

"Oh. Good luck with that. Where are you moving to?"

"Oh, just on to the base. It will be easier for everyone we hope. Plus, they have good schools.

"Ah. Well, if we don't see you again, then I hope you do well."

"You as well."

Anna looked for Ray and Maya whenever she took Cole to the park, but she never saw them again. By the time she and Lou married and moved onto the base, she knew she would ever run into them again.

Cole only asked about his friend the first time they went to the park after the air show.

"Well, he's not here today. Maybe you will see him again in the future," Anna explained.

"Really?" Cole asked.

"Possibly. You don't know what the future will hold."