It was a breezy Friday morning in the valley for Katie. As she's sitting by the pool with a sketchbook in hand, drawing whatever comes to mind. This was something she would do when she is stressed or having a rough time with her anxiety. Back at home her therapist told her to do things that help relieve tension building up. Katie did everything on the list, from singing, meditating or writing your emotions out on paper.

None of them worked, until one day, Katie was assigned to an art project that made her realize that drawing is her second best friend. Drawing what she felt through the colors of paint, is what made her love the idea.

Abstract art is Katie's forte and for one, didn't have to tell anyone the key details on what's on her mind, because some of it is shown through the canvas. Most of the time, nobody suspects it's from her own emotions, and that's how she likes it.

" That's pretty," Sam tells Katie from beside her. The LaRusso girl had invited Katie over for a sleepover as their friendship had started to progress.

Ever since the apology Katie had gotten from the former popular girl. She had gotten to know Sam as a sweet girl, that is the daughter of a former Karate champion, Daniel LaRusso. Sam's parents are super nice and welcoming when Katie first walked through those doors, she instantly felt comfortable in their beautiful home.

" Thanks," Katie said back, briefly looking over to her.

" When did you start doing art?" Sam asked while turning a page from her magazine.

" Not that long, maybe a couple of years" Katie answered, and leaned forward to grab her pencil case.

" Well you're really talented, I'll tell you that, all I can draw is a stick figure, " Sam says, and closes the magazine, dropping it on the floor next to her flip flops.

Katie giggles, giving Sam a look, " What? It's true" Sam said with a laugh following through her words. The LaRusso girl leans back into her chair, face beaming with happiness.

" What are you thinking about Sam?" Katie questioned her, while sorting through her paint pens. Sam sighed before sitting up and hugging her knees.

" Thinking about Miguel and how it will be our fourth month of us dating soon" Katie smiled at that, knowing how much Sam meant to Miguel and vice versa.

" I'm just happy that I have a boyfriend like him, you know? He's so sweet and caring" Sam explained, setting her chin on her knees.

" You guys look good together, I see how guys make each other happy" Katie implied. " Everytime you see him, I always notice how you're always staring at him with dreamy eyes and-" Katie mimics what she says and makes kissing noises to her friend. Who playfully pushes her, with laughs escaping her mouth " I do not do that!"

" Oh yes you do!" The curly headed said, chuckling at Sam, who smiled at her knowingly. " Okay maybe I do," Sam admitted, rolling her eyes in a jesting manner.

Then Sam remembered something and her happy smile faded, making Katie notice right away. " What's wrong?"

" I still don't know how I should tell my dad that Miguel is in Cobra Kai, he even said for me not to associate with any of them" She shared with a sigh. " I don't know what to do Katie'' Sam whispered out.

" We'll figure it out Sam, together okay?" Katie comforts, putting a hand on Sam's shoulder. Giving a supporting smile to her friend who returned it.

On the other side of the LaRusso household, Robby Keene skates his way to the gates of the driveway. Coming to a stop he flicks his skateboard upward and leans it against the wooden doors, before walking to the back of the house.

Today was one of Robby's karate lessons with Daniel LaRusso. Who has been training him ever since he started working at the dealership. Robby feels like the best version of himself after years of hangouting with the wrong crowd. Feeling grateful that a man like Daniel LaRusso, has taught him the Migayi Do advice, that helps Robby see everything differently.

As Robby makes his way to the pool area, he stops in his tracks. He stood there in awe, seeing the two girls in front of him. The unknown girl sitting beside Katie looked so beautiful and sweet at the same time

He gulped nervously and subconsciously shifted his gaze to Katie. He couldn't help but stare at her longer. She looked so peaceful, and saw how she was so focused on gladding the pencil along the white paper. Her beautiful blue eyes, inspecting it with such intensity and determination. Her curly caramel hair was pulled up into a ponytail. With a few strands framing her face.

Robby's heart started to beat faster at the sight of her. He suddenly felt nervous, and he didn't know why. His hands started to get clammy and he felt like a creep just staring at both girls, mainly at Katie. That's when he made the rational decision to leave and knock on the front door instead. When he turned around in an attempt to escape, he ran into a wind chime.

The sudden noise startled both girls, making Sam stand up, alarmed of the unfamiliar face standing in front of them. Katie's face held a soft smile, noticing Robby struggle to keep the instrument quiet.

" Oh hey" Sam greeted, awkwardly standing in her spot.

"Hi," Robby greeted back before looking at Katie. " Hey Katie" He smiled as she got up from the lounge chair, giving him a wave.

" Sorry I was looking for Mr. LaRusso, he's been training me back here at the dojo" Robby explained to Sam, as he walked closer to them.

" Then I should thank you," Sam smiled " He tried roping me into it"

Robby laughed as he takes a glance at Katie, seeing her putting the art makers away. " So you must be the daughter, he talks about all the time?" He questions.

" I would hope so, I'm Samantha"

" Robby" He introduced himself, his gaze going back to Katie when she walked up to them, standing next to Sam.

"Oh look who it is," Daniel says, noticing the teens, after he walked out of the back door. " My current student and my former student," He said as he walked up to them. " You know, if you wanna join us Sam there's still time"

" I'm actually going to the mall with Mom and Grandma" Sam explained, " Oh that's good, Just text me if there's any bloodshed" Daniel joked to his daughter as she laughed.

"Katie, would you like to come with us? Maybe learn a few moves?" He asked the girl who was staring off into space, until hearing her name being called. "Thank you Mr. LaRusso for the kind invite but I'm going with Sam-"

"Actually she would love to go with you guys" Sam interrupted Katie, who looked at her surprised.

Katie, who is caught off guard, tried to come up with an excuse not to go. " I, uh well" Daniel notices her hesitation and waves his hand to her.

" You don't have to learn anything if you're not comfortable wanting to, you could just go for the ride" He said, trying to break the unexpected attention she is facing.

The Wilson girl thinks for a bit, "Well I could use a walk," Katie says, and holds up her sketchbook. "And inspiration" Robby smiles at her, feeling quite happy her tagging along.

" All right, guys, let's get going. Robby give me a hand with this, we're gonna take the SUV" Daniel hands over the cooler, " Bye bye sweetheart" He tells his daughter before making his way out of the backyard.

" Bye Dad, have fun"

" Goodluck!" Daniel yelled back, walking out to the front of the house.

Turning to Sam, confused out of her mind, " Sam why did you do that?" Katie questions with a whisper.

Sam sighs, giving the girl a frown. " Look you've said you have been stressed lately, maybe going with them can help ease some tension" She says and leans over to grab the pencil case from the lawn chair. " And what my dad is going to teach Robby is inspiring, that it'll give you some peace of mind"

" Katie you coming?"

Katie glances over to Robby who's standing next to the gate. She sighs and looks back at Sam, seeing her holding the pencil case with a pleading look. " You're not doing this to get rid of me are you?"

Letting out a laugh, Sam hands over the case and gives her push towards Robby. " Be careful out there my friend" She tells the curly head as Katie glaces back and rolls her eyes playfully.

" It was nice meeting you" Robby gives a smile at Sam.

" You too, and uh good luck with the tree" Sam informed Robby, who gave her a confused look. Katie gave a wave to her friend, before the pair walk to the car.

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"When I was a kid, Mr. Miyagi took me to this beautiful lake up north to train. I tried to take Samantha there once, but after the drought, it's become more of a puddle" Daniel told the two teens, while three of them were walking in the woods. " So I found this spot instead"

" It's really... nice here, reminds me of home" Katie said softly, looking up at the colored trees.

" Do you miss it?" Robby asked, glancing at her as he took a step over a random log.

Katie smiles, " Yeah, it was a nice place, but held too many memories, you know?" She continued looking at the scenery, her mood slightly down.

Robby frowned, but shrugged her way, "Well you can make new memories here"

Her mood going up again, Katie looks at him, following with a nod. " This can be one of the memories" She said, making Robby smile.

Coming to a complete stop behind Daniel, "You hear that?" He says, turning around to face them. The Keene boy looks at him confused and glanced at Katie, who had the same reaction.

" You hear that?" Daniel repeats, " I want you to close your eyes and just listen"

Robby closes his eyes as Katie stands there looking around awkwardly. " Go on" Daniel ushers her to do the same, making her realize he meant the both of them "Right, sorry" She quickly says, doing what she was told.

"No it's okay, now what do you hear?"

It took Katie a second to understand where Daniel was coming from. Still confused, but decided it was worth the try. " Nature? I hear water flowing" Katie said, peeking one eye out, to see Daniel gesturing to her in a conceivable manner.

" Um nothing" Robby tells him, with Daniel nodding, while smiling. " Exactly,"

Katie sucks in air through her teeth, looking embarrassed on getting it wrong. " It's alright Katie, you're right too, there's nature, water, no phone calls, no internet, no family arguments'' He reassures her. "Just us and Mother Nature. That's why we're here. This is what Miyagi Do Karate is all about. Come on"

A few hours have gone by, with Daniel teaching Robby, Miyagi Do Karate. Seeing the beautiful sights the forest had offered. Made Katie sit down and took in the peaceful nature. Closing her eyes and branching out her negative thoughts away.

Like other times, Katie tried this method before, but that moment was spent in the office of her therapist. Having soft tones playing in the background was not ideal. It disrupted the process of the so-called meditating for her. Being frustrated and having gone through loss at that point of her life, made her push it away.

Everything she had been through, created problems for her. She knew nothing would be the same like it once was. It made her angry, sad and helpless, nothing could ever take that pain away. Dealing with it, made her miserable, Katie wished she could bury the burden away and never feel it again.

The weight of it is unbearable, heavier than anything, never lifting off and always staying in its place. Sometimes it was hard to breathe from it, and would end up causing anxiety and stress for the Wilson Girl.

Nevertheless, Katie took the advice from Daniel and heard nothing as she sat there. It helped, some of the weight uplifted, but most of it stayed there. She knew not all of it was going away, Katie wished it did though.

When it was time to head to the next spot in the woods, Katie could see Robby feel more relaxed, before he came here. " Wow I feel like, I'm like, Jackie Chan"

" I've got to admit, you're more of a natural than I was, but don't get too cocky, there's always another lesson to be learned" Daniel told him, turning back to look at him.

" Is that a Mr. Miyagi saying?" Robby questioned, " No, I just made that one up on the fly. Not bad, right" Daniel praised himself as they continued their way up.

" How are you doing, over there Katie? I saw you meditating earlier" Daniel remarked, glancing back.

" I'm doing fine. The mediating kinda helped" Katie told him, picking up the pace with them. Daniel nodded, " Anything that's going on?"

His question made Katie pause for a second, catching her off guard. She really didn't know how to answer it, nor give a right response. Her words all jumbled up in her mind, each of them racing to the finish line.

All that came out was, " Nothing major, just stressed out" Even that made her regret her word choices, but she couldn't take it back now.

" So, we headed home?" Robby asked, changing the topic, observing how uncomfortable the Wilson girl was. Katie looked up from the ground, silently praying for the man to say yes.

" You wish"

Head down in defeat, they continued on and once they stop walking, Daniel turns over to them," Training ain't over yet, you may know the moves, but none of that matters, unless you have balance"

" I balance on my skateboard every day." Robby bragged with a smile, earning a head shake from Daniel.

" I didn't mean balancing your body. I mean balancing your life" He stated, " Look Robby.. I know it's hard growing up without a dad, believe me. Mine died when I was young, so I know"

Relating to her newer friend, caught Katie by surprise. Her dad leaving their family when she was only three, gave a new perspective on what Daniel's life lesson was about.

" But when those bad feelings all weigh you down, you gotta, you gotta search inside for the good stuff, you know, and just" Daniel demonstrated by weighing his hands down to the same level, of each other.

"Because then you can find some balance in your life. You understand? It's not easy, but you'll do it" He tells Robby and then turns to face Katie, "Balance is something everyone needs in their life, it's what helps them grow into a better version of themselves Katie" Daniel advised " So keep up with the mediating, because having that will help in the long run..okay?"

" Yes, Mr. LaRusso" Katie reassured him, she didn't know if she could even stand by it, considering how her life is, but she was willing to try.

" Mr. LaRusso, I...I need to tell you something" Robby hesitated, he looked uneasy on what he wanted to say. Katie could see him swallow nervously and his body was stiff, not relaxed like before.

" Sure. What is it?" Daniel asked, having no clue on Robby's change of attitude. Katie sees him open his mouth to say something, but closes it and gives a fake smile to Daniel. " Thanks for teaching me"

Liar, Katie thought. She could see right through him that something wasn't right. That he really wanted to tell Mr. LaRusso something very important.

Daniel sighed with a smile, " No, don't thank me yet. You're about to hate me. Shed that duffel bag, and get up in this tree right here" He pointed at the fallen tree behind him.

Standing off to the side, Katie watches Robby throw his bag to the ground and walks over to lift himself onto the tree. " All right, now find your balance" Daniel tells him.

" All right, show me what we learned today. Let's start with a front kick" Watching Robby stop in the middle of the tree, he gets in a stance with his arms risen and hands in fists. Kicking his right leg, high in the air.

" Not bad, try a round kick" In the same stance, Robby lifts up his left leg to the side and kicks the air with his foot twice. Feeling impressed by her friend getting the moves right, Katie smiles and does a little clap.

" Is this supposed to be hard?" The Keene boy smiles cockly. " All right, hotshot. Show me a hook kick" Daniel gave him another challenging move.

Getting in a different stance than before, Katie sees Robby stand to the side, his back facing them. Swinging around his leg, he loses his balance and falls off the tree with a yell. "There it is," Daniel remarked.

" You are alright?"

Katie watches Robby get up with a grunt, holding his hip. " Yeah," He says, looking at Katie, who gives him a pained smile. " What do I do now?" Robby asked,

"Get back up, and try again. You let me know when you can do all the kicks without falling" Daniel pulls out his phone from his pokcet, looking through it. Katie frowned, as he walked away from the teens.

" What are you going" Robby asked the man, confused.

"The Devils are playing the Islanders on the East Coast, I'm gonna move to a spot with better service" Daniel gestures the phone in his hand.

" What happened to no distractions?" Robby asked, flailing his arms up.

" Hockey doesn't count! Katie, keep an eye on him for me would ya?" Daniel joked as he walked further away from them.

Letting out a tired sigh from the events of today, she walks over to Robby, who was dusting off his pants. "For a second I really thought he was going to leave us here" Katie teased him as she pulled a leaf out of his hoodie.

Robby smiled, " At least we'd have each other" He comments, making Katie playfully roll her eyes and give him a small push towards the tree. " And you gotta practice all the moves, so we can get out of here"

Chuckling at the girl, he obeys and hosts himself on the tree again. " Wait" Katie stops him from walking forward. He turns around to see her grab on a branch to pull herself up. Robby leans forward and helps, by grabbing her other hand, so she's fully on her feet. "Thanks" She said as he made room for her to walk on the tree.

Sometime had gone by,  Katie was still drawing in her book, having a seat in front of Robby. Who was doing the moves repeatedly as Daniel had ordered. "Not gonna watch me? To see if I could hit the moves correctly?"

Katie looks up from her almost finished drawing, watching Robby finishing a hook kick. " I haven't heard you fall off the tree yet, you're doing fine" She waves him off, going back to her sketchbook.

Robby laughed, shaking his head before finishing up and taking a seat next to her. Katie peeks up from her drawing, seeing him smile at himself while looking out in front of him.

"You did good though, believe me" She reassures by putting a hand on his shoulder. Robby glances at her hand, his lips curl into a smile. She leaves it there a second longer before retracting her hand.

Closing her sketchbook , her eyebrows furrow thinking about what happened a few hours ago. " Hey about earlier, what were you going to say to Mr. LaRusso when he gave us advice on balance?"

Her question made Robby freeze and his soft smile disappeared. Katie noticed, quickly dismissing what she had asked. " I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked, it's none of my business" Stammering through her words, Katie starts messing with her fingers, afraid that she overstepped boundaries.

Shaking his head and looking forward again, " I only did it, to get back at my dad" Robby implied, looking at his feet, hanging from where he sat. " But, when Mr. LaRusso started teaching me, I couldn't go along with my plan"

" What plan?" Katie questioned once more, feeling more calmer than she was before.

Robby looked at Katie, " To get back at my dad, knowing it'll piss him off that I'm with Mr. LaRusso. These past couple of months have been the best months of my life, if I tell Mr. LaRusso, it'll ruin what we have" He sighs out, annoyed at what he got himself into.

Thinking on what Robby had said. Katie was piecing together everything she'd heard from what Mia, Miguel and Sam, from what they had told her. The rivalry between Johnny Lwarence and Daniel LaRusso, all left her one thing in mind, " So you're the son of...." She trials off, his green eyes gazing at her.

"Johnny Lawerence" He finishes the sentence, seeing her eyes slightly widen at the fact. " I'm sorry that I questioned you about that, I was just concerned about you" Katie tells him honestly, having her stare at her hands.

Hearing him chuckle, he lays a hand on her own " At the end of the day, it was my choice to tell you, I trust you Katie. There's nothing to be sorry about" He reassures her, his thumb rubbing small circles on the back of her hand.

The Wilson girl's face reddens from his touch, the unfamiliar feeling coming up in her stomach again. Katie didn't know what this meant, having mixed feelings about everything.

" It feels a bit better to tell someone else that isn't Daniel LaRusso," Robby added, making them both chuckle.

" Like I said, I'm here if you need any help, that's what friends are for" She reminded him, giving him a knowing look. Robby didn't say anything else, while keeping his eyes on her. The sunlight shining on them, making her eyes brighter, like the sky above.

"We should head back" He suggested, taking his hand off her's. " Yeah, we should" Katie agreed, looking in his eyes once more, before they both got up and gathered their stuff.

The walk to find Mr. LaRusso, was quiet yet peaceful. It didn't take long for the teens to find the man, who was doing an upside down handstand. Both of them stared in awe as he lifted his right hand off the ground, only leaving the other one balancing himself.

" Wow, if I did that, I'd fall right on my face," Katie whispered, not wanting to startle the man.

However, Robby was still in shock of the man's move.  "Mr. LaRusso?" He looked at him in disbelief, still wondering how he did that.

Mr. LaRusso opened his eyes, " Huh?" Unaware of the audience that was watching, makes him lose his balance and tumbles down on the hard surface of the rock.

" Oh god" Katie yells out in panic as Robby and her sprint to help him.

" I almost did it" Daniel informs them as he rolls over to sit. "Almost" He grunts and slides himself over to face them.

" What were you doing?" Robby asked him curiously.

"One of the last things Mr. Miyagi ever taught me. The most powerful kick in Miyagi Do karate" Daniel explains, having a proud look on his face.

" That's pretty cool, Mr. LaRusso" Katie beamed, making him nod with a smile. "How do you do it?" The Keene boy asked

" I wish I could show you, only Mr. Miyagi could do it. You have to balance your whole body on one hand which frees up two legs for the kick." Daniel explains while holding up two of his fingers.

" I almost did it once when I was in my 20's. So the fact that I got this close today. Pretty damn awesome" He finished with a proud smile. " How'd you do on the tree?"

Robby chuckles, " I did all the moves without falling"

Daniel looks at Katie, raising an eyebrow at her, "Didn't fall once" She admitted, glancing at Robby.

" Good, now that you've mastered that, you're ready for the next challenge" Daniel informs, standing up from where he sat.

" What's that?" Robby questions him as Katie watches him jump off from the rock, also intrigued on what he has planned next. " Finding the car, this place is like a maze" That was music to Katie's ears as they started walking back to where they had come from.

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Pulling up to the LaRusso household, it was ready night time and Katie felt some stress lift off her shoulders. With a clear mind and good thoughts, the Wilson girl felt lighter that night, and that was something she hadn't felt in a longtime.

Walking through the house and into the kitchen, Katie sees Amanda and Lucille having a friendly conversation while cooking dinner. Remembering a brief mention that Sam said, about her mother and grandma not having the best relationship. It was a sight to see.

" Hey look who's here. Come on in! " Lucille notices the three standing there, with a surprised looking at Daniel.

" Hey!" Amanda greets as well, glancing back over her shoulder.

" Amanda and I are making dinner," Lucille explains as Daniel leaves Katie and Robby there. "Your mom made her famous chicken cacciatore" Amanda adds, walking over and places the dish onto the table.

" Yes, but with the help of your beautiful wife." The older compliments, handing a glass of wine to her daughter in law. " Oh stop!" Amanda waves it off while taking a sip of her wine.

Katie, still in her spot, not knowing if she should walk in and join them. Catches the eyes of Lucille who is stirring up some sauce in a pan. "And you must be Katie! We haven't officially met, I'm Lucille, Daniel's mother and the grandma of Samatha and Anthony" She welcomes the girl with a bright smile on her face.

Smiling, Katie walks into the kitchen. " Nice to meet you" The girl greeted politely as Sam walks in. " You owe me big time" She told her father, with a grin.

" Wait. How did you do it? Hey. You know what? I don't even care" Daniel exclaims, taking the wine glass from Sam.

" I'm hungry. Hey you hungry? You wanna stay for dinner?" Daniel asks Robby, who is still standing there, with a unsure look on his face. " Uh, sure. Yeah, thanks"

" Hey" Sam greets Katie, who was grabbing a plate that Lucille gave to her, " How was it?" Sam questions, while gathering some vegetables onto hers.

" It was good, thank you for pushing me out there Sam" Katie confided, playfully bumping her shoulder against the brunette.

" Solving two problems in one day, you should call me Super Sam" Sam praised, grabbing her plate full of food. Katie lets out a laugh, " Hmmm no"

" Oh come on!" Sam wines, as they both walked outside to the patio.

Meanwhile, Miguel Diaz, got off his bike and heaved out a sigh. He'd been over the edge for the last couple of days. Knowing the history behind his Sensei and Daniel LaRusso. All he wanted was to be introduced to Sam's family, mostly her dad since the Diaz boy is in Cobra Kai.

He didn't want his girlfriend's dad to treat him differently, even if he's from the rival dojo. Stepping up onto the porch, and repeated lines that were rehearsed on the way over. Laughter was heard from the patio, instantly having Miguel walk over there.

Coming to a complete stop, the first thing he sees is Sam and her family having dinner, along with Katie. Yet the only thing he cared about was the unknown boy sitting next to his girlfriend. Jealousy and discouragement hung on him as he left the LaRusso household.

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Nearing the end of the season 👀. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

-M

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Tootles✨