✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

October 1991
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𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐂𝐀 stepped quietly into the nursery, the soft creak of the wooden floor barely audible beneath her bare feet. The room was bathed in the golden hue of the late afternoon sun, filtering gently through gauzy white curtains. She lowered herself into the rocking chair by the window, her hand instinctively resting on her swollen belly. With a tender smile, she began to caress the curve of her baby bump, her eyes soft and filled with wonder.

Unbeknownst to her, Bobby lingered in the doorway, silent and still, listening to every word.

"Hey, my darling little girl. I've enjoyed having you by my side this year. I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait for you to meet your dad, who is simply perfect. He is absolutely perfect. Oh my goodness, you're going to be astounded when you see how perfect your dad is and how handsome he is." Rebecca smiled fondly at the thought of Bobby.

A warm smile tugged at her lips as she gazed out the window for a moment, then looked back down at her belly, still gently rubbing small circles over her skin.

"Honestly, you're going to be a huge fan of your dad. I must admit, I'm a bit nervous about meeting you. But I promise to be the best mom I can be. Your grandmother, my mom, was the best. Before she passed away, she gave me this beautiful pink dress. I miss her dearly. But I promise you, I will always protect you. I will always sing to you when you're asleep and be thrilled to hear you laugh. I love you so much that it hurts, and I haven't even met you yet. It's incredible. You're going to love your grandparents, who will love you unconditionally. You're also going to love your uncles, and they'll be just as crazy about you. You're going to love your aunt Ali, and you'll adore Mr. Miyagi." Rebecca smiled warmly.

Rebecca sat there for a few moments, gently caressing her baby bump. She felt the baby kick, a sensation she absolutely cherished.

"Yes, I love you too, my little one." Rebecca smiled warmly.

"You are so beautiful that it almost hurts," Bobby said as he entered the nursery.

"How long have you been standing there?" Rebecca smiled as she rose from the rocking chair and embraced her husband.

"Long enough." Bobby smiled. "I heard everything. The baby's gonna love you. Don't you dare doubt that."

"Not as much as she's going to love you." Rebecca said. "When I met you, I didn't realize how much you were going to mean to me. What was going to come of us. Now look. We have a family. This is all I've ever wanted."

"Bec, I have always loved you. You and Joni are all I've ever wanted." Bobby said. "I love you more than you'll ever know.

The husband and wife shared a sweet and passionate kiss. He rested his forehead against her's when Rebecca felt a sharp pain in her lower area. "Bobby?"

Bobby kissed her temple, and caressed her baby bump. "Hmm?"

"How fast can you drive?" Rebecca questioned

"I can drive fast, why?" Bobby questioned as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

"My water just broke." Rebecca said. Bobby took his wife by the hand, and carefully led her down the stairs and toward his car.

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In the delivery room at UCLA, Rebecca was in labor. Bobby, Dean, and Adaline were helping her through a contraction, while her friends and family were out in the waiting room

"Take a deep breath, Rebecca. Almost there." Bobby reassured her as her contraction subsided, and he gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. Suddenly, she felt another contraction approaching.

Dean held his daughter's hand and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "There you go, hon. Almost done."

"Deep breath, hon. Deep breath, deep breath. Deep breath, look at me, deep breath." Bobby said, and Rebecca looked at him and took a deep breath.

"There you go sweetheart." Adaline smiled as she caressed the brunette's forehead

"There you go. Almost done. Almost done," Bobby said, wiping her forehead and assisting her through another contraction.

Rebecca took a deep breath and laid her head back. "Bobby?" Bobby wiped the sweat from her forehead and gently replied, "Yes?"

Rebecca gently laid her head back and said, "I love you so much. I'm so sorry for anything I'm about to say. I promise you, I don't mean any of it."

Bobby softly chuckled and kissed her forehead in response. "You're beautiful, and I know you'll mean some of it, trust me. But I love you, and I know you don't mean it."

After the contraction passed, Adaline gently wiped the sweat from Rebecca's forehead, while Bobby and Dean held her hands tightly. The contractions continued to come and go, accompanied by the presence of Dr. Bailey. As the contractions subsided, it was time for Rebecca to give birth to Joni.

Dr. Bailey stood in the delivery position, with Bobby and Dean holding her hands. Adaline stood beside her son. Rebecca had been pushing for a few minutes now. "There you go, Rebecca, one more big push," Dr. Bailey encouraged as Rebecca pushed. "There you go, push!"

Rebecca clenched her teeth, summoned every last ounce of strength, and pushed. Moments later, the room was filled with the soft cry of a newborn. Everyone froze.

Then, tears welled in Rebecca's eyes as Dr. Bailey lifted the tiny, perfect girl into view. Rebecca and Bobby exchanged a glance, their hearts swelling with pride and affection as they gazed upon their daughter. Dean and Adaline, their granddaughter, smiled warmly at her, sharing in the joyous moment.

"She's beautiful," Rebecca whispered, breathless.

Bobby kissed his wife and smiled. "You did it, Angel."

Once the afterbirth was delivered and the baby cleaned, Joni was placed into her mother's waiting arms. Rebecca gazed into her daughter's deep violet-blue eyes, her soul aching with love.

"Hi there my sweet girl. Hi my precious little green." Rebecca smiled as she brought Joni close to her chest and the newborn made sweet gurgling sounds. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you sweetheart. We're your parents. We can't wait to watch you grow up. I can't wait to French-braid your hair. The world is a little nutty, but, no matter what, you will never doubt your place in it." she smiled as she kissed her daughter's head, then glanced at her husband. "Bobby, she's perfect." she added as she doted over her daughter

"Just like her mother." Bobby smiled as he placed his hands on her shoulders and Rebecca smiled up at him once more

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Sam nervously paced around the waiting room, Jimmy and Clark were locked into a football game, Tommy played absently with a toy car, Ali flipped through a magazine, Dutch snored softly, and Mr. Miyagi sat with perfect patience.

"Any sign of them?" Jenny asked as she gave Jimmy and Ali each a cup of coffee

Sam glanced towards the double doors and responded, "Not yet."

"Sam, come and sit down everything will be alright." Clark said

"We should have heard something by now." Sam said. As if on cue, Dean walked out as his brother, and the rest of the group walked up to him.

"Dean, how's Rebecca?" Sam asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Sammy, I'm a grandfather. She's beautiful, and healthy." Dean smiled with pride and hugged his brother tight, after pulling away from his brother's embrace, he looked towards the group, then spoke. "They're asking for all of you, but someone should wake up sleeping Dutchess in the corner."

Jimmy rolled his eyes and nudged Dutch. "Dutch. Wake up man. Rebecca had the baby." he said

"It's about time." Dutch said sleepily then stood up

Jimmy rolled his eyes at his best friend, then followed the group to the delivery room, where Rebecca laid doting over her newborn daughter. "Hey everyone. Come on in." she smiled as she continued doting over her daughter and Bobby placed his hands on her shoulder

"She's beautiful." Ali smiled as she and Jenny sat down on the bed beside their best friend.

"Thanks, hon." Rebecca smiled. "Thanks, Ali." Bobby smiled

"What's her name?" Tommy asked

"Joni Marianne Brown." Rebecca said as she held her daughter. "Joni after my favorite singer, Marianne after my mother's."

"She looks like a Marianne." Jimmy said as he smiled at the baby who was slowly opening her beautiful blue eyes

"Everyone, meet Joni Marianne Brown." Rebecca smiled as she handed the baby to Ali.

Ali cradled the baby next, kissing her tiny forehead. "Hi, Joni. I'm your Aunt Ali. You are hands-down the most beautiful baby I've ever seen."

"Hi sweetheart." Dean smiled as Ali handed him the baby.

Once Joni was back in her mother's arms, she looked up at her with her beautiful blue eyes. After friends and family left, Dean and Sam remained in the room, as Mr. Miyagi, Daniel and Amanda stood in the room, holding Joni.

"Beautiful, Rebecca-san and Bobby-San." Mr. Miyagi smiled as he held the baby in his arms. "She will be protector of family"

"Thank you." Rebecca smiled as Bobby held her hand. "Thank you." Bobby smiled

"Joni-san," Miyagi said softly. "One day, you learn karate from mother, father, and Daniel-san. But balance—balance not just for karate. Balance for whole life. Balance makes everything better."

As Joni nestled against her grandfather figure, Bobby and Rebecca watched with full hearts, their fingers laced together.

Rebecca, Bobby, and Joni are now a family. They will have a lot of learning to do together, but that's ok because they love this infant more than they love themselves. For there's nothing stronger than the love of a parent.

Author's Note:

The Sequel is out now! It's called The Forever Now, and will pick up with Joni in her adult years, as well as Bobby and Rebecca in their 50's.