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30 Years Later

𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒, Stella was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, which is an early stage of memory loss or other cognitive ability loss in individuals who maintain the ability to independently perform most activities of daily living.

Now completely bedridden, and with her husband Johnny now deceased, her only survivors include her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and best friends.

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In the old Lawrence home, in Austin Texas, Stella laid in her hospital bed, asleep. Her wishes were if she were to pass on, she wanted to pass away peacefully at home.

"Stella? How are you doing in there honey?" The nurse asked as she felt of Stella's forehead

"How is she?" Robby asked as he and Hailey walked in the bedroom.

"I know you wanted to wait, but your mother's blood pressure is dropping, and her legs are starting to go cold." The nurse said

August, Sam, and Jack walked in, as well as Maverick and Laynie, who were now married. "Things are starting to happen quickly now. I don't see her making it through the night. I think it's time to start saying goodbyes." The nurse said

August, Jack, and Robby looked at one another. They knew they had to FaceTime Montana, who was in New York for a medical conference.

"Thank you." Robby said.

Later, the family and friends gathered in the living room. Robby and Hailey gathered in the living room, as their son, Nathan (named in honor of his step-grandfather) sat beside them.

Jack and Montana's twins, Johnny (who was every bit in striking resemblance to his maternal grandfather, and Brooklyn Bea (named in honor of Mrs. Stafford-Smith's daughter), sat with their father.

Lori, Kara, Amy, Carter, Makayl, and Nicki sat on the couch in the company of August and Sam, as well as Maverick and Laynie, and their daughter, Lydia.

"So, should we draw straws?" Maverick questioned.

"I'll go." August spoke up after a moment of comfortable silence.

"I'll go with you, honey." Sam said as she stood up with him

In Stella's dream like state, she had returned to her 26-year-old self. She sat on the train, looking out the window, and felt a presence next to her.

"I'm not ready to go yet. I'm waiting for someone. You know, my father always wanted to take my brother and I on a train like this. The closest we ever got to a train was the Amtrak for Fort Worth. He'd say, One day, we're gonna take a ride on a train where people wear tuxedos and drink Vespers. I had no idea what a Vesper was, but I knew I wanted one." Stella said.

"A martini with gin, vodka and lillet." a masculine  voice said. "Shaken, never stirred. James Bond."

Stella looked up and smiled, as she recognized the voice, of her favorite patient. Tommy. He had returned to his youthful 17-year-old appearance. "Yes, that's right. Sit with me?"

"Well, you did it kiddo. You became the nurse you wanted to be, and you even had a family with Johnny. Johnny settling down is something I thought I'd never see.." Tommy said

Stella laughed as she took Tommy's hand in her own. "I wish there was more I could have done for you."

"Hey, I'm happy." Tommy said. "And you will be too."

Stella gave him a look of confusion as he stood up. "Would you like to go to the bar car with me?" he asked

Stella was hesitant. "Oh, I would, but, I'm waiting for someone."

"I know. It's okay. Come on." Tommy said

Stella and Tommy stood up and walked the train. When the two got to the next box car, she saw her brother, who had returned to his younger years, and Sam, who had returned to her younger years as well.

Smiling brightly, Stella spoke. "August? Sam? What are y'all doing here?"

August's voice came over the speaker of the train and Stella looked at it. "I had to come and see you. I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am for everything you did for me after mom died, even when we moved to the valley. Taking care of me when I was sick, soothing every fever. I always looked up to my big sister. After she died, you became the mold that held our family together. There were times I was worried about you. Then when you and Johnny found each other, I knew you were going to be all right. You have spent your entire life taking care of everyone else, now, you have earned a rest. I love you sis."

Sam's voice came over the speaker of the train and she looked at it. "You were always so kind to me when August and I started dating, even though all the karate drama and the accident, when August and I broke up for a while, you were still so kind to me. I have always looked up to you Stella. After Cobra Kai won the tournament, you told me something I would never forget. It wasn't about winning. It was about doing what I love. I promise, I'll take care of August. I'll see you on the other side, my sister. I love you."

"Stella?" Tommy said and Stella looked at him. "The train is moving fast. We have to keep going."

At the airport in San Diego, Montana had just boarded the plane. She was FaceTiming with Makayl, Nicki, Jack, Robby, and August

"Well, I boarded. Should be there in less than a couple hours. Is everyone there?" Montana said

"Montana, your mom's taken a turn. We don't think she's gonna make it through the night." Makayl said

"Oh, my God. I should have never come to this conference. I told them I didn't want to come." Montana said as she wiped her tears. "I promised daddy I would always take care of her if something happened to him."

"No. No, don't say that. All right? You're doing exactly what mom wanted you to do. You're taking the big leaps." Robby said

"Robby's right honey." August reassured. "Johnny would have understood. And you have taken care of her."

"They're right, babe." Jack reassured

"You tell her that I'm on my way. Do you hear me? You tell my mom that her little girl is on her way." Montana said

"We will hon." Nicki reassured

"Ma'am, I'm going to ask you to turn off your phone." The flight attendant said

"Okay. I've got to go. You tell her. You hear me?" Montana said

"We will, honey." Jack said

In Stella's dream state, she and Tommy entered the bar car, where she found a little girl version of herself, applying bandaids to baby dolls. That is until...

"Hey kiddo." A masculine voice said

Stella turned to see Nathan and Aaron standing at the bar, cleaning a few glasses. "What are you having?" Nathan asked as the brunette sat down at the bar. "Limoncello?"

"Aren't you fancy?" Stella teased.

"Now, now." Nathan laughed and Stella did too.

"Actually, could you make me a vesper?" Stella asked

"Coming right up." Nathan said.

"Your family is beautiful, kiddo." Aaron smiled as Nathan made Stella's vesper

"Thanks. Montana's not here." Stella said

"We know." Nathan said

"I've spent my whole life worrying about her. Just wondering if I ever did wrong by her." Stella said. "If I did the right thing by letting her go to Boston with Mrs. Stafford-Smythe."

"She became the doctor she always wanted to be. You and Johnny always taught her to follow her dreams." Aaron said. "There's nothing left to do. You trust the process and drink a vesper."

"Thank you." Stella smiled as she accepted the vesper. After taking a sip, she smiled in delight. "Mmm."

"And you thought we just knew our way around ranching and things." Aaron teased.

Stella chuckled, making her father and uncle chuckle as well, then Nathan spoke. "I'm so proud of you and your brother. You and your brother survived losing your mother, then when we moved out to the valley. Then you survived one tragedy after the other, after Johnny died. You have two beautiful children and beautiful grandchildren. I said it to you when you were a little girl, and I will say it again. You're as tough as they come, Stella Blue, and you my dear, have earned a rest. Tommy?"

"I love you both so much." Stella smiled as she embraced her father and uncle

"We love you too, kiddo." Nathan smiled as he embraced his daughter.

Stella and Tommy moved to the next box car. She walked down the rows and there sat her grandmother and best friends, Lori, Kara, Amy, and Carter.

"I'm so proud of you my sweet grand baby." Janette smiled as she embraced her granddaughter. "I've always been so proud of you."

"I just wanted to say, you were the best friend we've ever had. No, you were our sister. I know you're worried about Montana, Robby, and the kids, but I've got them now. I promise. Rest. I'll see you on the other side. We love you sis." Lori said

Stella continued her walk through the train, and she saw all her friends from the valley. As she and Tommy continued on with their walk, she heard the voices of her son, son-in-law, and her brother.

"Hey mom, it's us. Robby, Jack, and August. Montana's on her way, but she wanted me to let you know that she's here in spirit." Robby said

"There's someone who's been waiting for you." Tommy said

Stella gave Tommy a look of confusion, but then she smelt the familiar scent of Penhaligon's Bluebell. Turning her head she found her mother, smiling at her. Before walking to her mother, she gave Tommy a kiss on the cheek.

With a watery smile, and embracing the beautiful blonde, Stella said, "Mom, I've missed you so much."

Returning her daughter's embrace, Ava smiled. "Oh, my sweet, and beautiful sweet pea. I've missed you too. But I'm so proud of the nurse you became and the family you've made."

"But there was so much I wanted to do with them." Stella said.

"You will, it's hard to explain honey, but you will." Ava reassured.

"You promise?" Stella said

Resting her hands on her daughter's cheeks, Ava smiled. "I promise."

"I mean, it's not like I want to be there for anything weird. I don't want to watch them shower or anything." Stella said

Ava softly chuckled then brought her daughter in for an embrace. "You won't, my sweet baby girl. But you'll always be there."

"I don't want to leave my children and grandchildren mama." Stella tearfully said

"You will never leave them honey." Ava said. "You'll see. It's time to go."

Stella and Ava walked on until they finally reached the caboose car, and she was hesitant to go in. "No. I told Tommy I'm waiting for someone." Stella said

"Hey mom, it's me. It's your little girl. I'm here. I'm here. I love you mom. I love you so much. Thank you, for always being there for me, and even when daddy died before I could graduate medical school, and I didn't want to finish, you made sure I finished. You always made sure Robby and I followed our dreams. No matter how big, or how small. It's okay mom. You can go now. We'll be okay." Montana softly cried

Stella felt a sigh of relief and looked at her mother. "Okay. I'm ready."

Ava opened the door to the Caboose car, and the two women walked inside. Turning to her mother, who had a proud smile on her face Stella spoke. "This is quite sad, isn't it? The end?"

"Sweetheart, the way I see it, if something makes you sad when it ends, it must have been pretty wonderful when it was happening. So much of the world is sad, because everything ends, and everything dies. But if you step back, and look at the whole picture, if you're brave enough to allow yourself the gift of a really wide perspective. If you do that, you'll see the end is not sad. It's just the start of the next incredibly beautiful thing." Ava said.

"I like that." Stella smiled

"The most important thing you learned about your life is that you lived it. Because you, my sweet angel, are my peace. Now it's time to go and find your's. You'll see me again soon. I promise." Ava smiled. "I love you, my baby blue."

Stella embraced her mother, then walked farther into the caboose car. After Ava closed the door, Stella allowed herself to let go, and she found her peace. Walking into the caboose car, she laid down on the bed, the same bed that was in her apartment in the valley.

Turning to her side, she smiled at the sight of her one true love, the one she was reunited with in the afterlife. Her Johnny Lawrence, who had returned to his 18-year-old youthful appearance

"Hey." Stella smiled as Johnny laid his hand on her leg

"Hey. I've missed you." Johnny smiled as he gave her a look of pure adoration and love

Stella smiled as she held his hand. "I've missed you more. You look so...different." she smiled

"Told you would have liked me better if you would have met me in the 80's." Johnny smiled

"I love you, just the way you are. You were hot when I met you, and you're hot now." Stella smiled and the two of them laughed. "Quite a thing isn't it? Us? Meeting in the apartment complex that day?"

"I don't know. I mean, when the world puts something that obvious in front of you, you don't just walk away. I knew I had to make you mine." Johnny said

"Even if it took a while." Stella teased

"You had to bring that up?" Johnny teased

Stella chuckled then her face fell. "You really think the kids will be okay?"

Johnny caressed her cheek. "The kids will be just fine. They're just like their mother. You ready?"

"Yeah." Stella smiled. "I'm ready now."

"I love you, Stella Blue Lawrence." Johnny said as he brought her in for a passionate kiss. "My happy ending, and my peace."

"I love you too, Johnny Lawrence." Stella smiled into the kiss

Author's Note:

This is the end of the The Bluest Eyes in Texas. If you have been here from the very beginning, thank you so much for all of your votes. I loved writing this story for you guys so much.

Dedicated to the beautiful Sharon Tate.
(January 24, 1943 — August 9, 1969)

Also, here is a spin off to the Bluest Eyes in Texas, if you would like to give it a read.