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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, Johnny walked into Smitty's diner to meet Kreese. Last night, after he and Stella had fallen asleep, Johnny woke up to his phone vibrating. After he answered the call, the older man told him to meet him at Smitty's at 8.

"Thanks for coming." Kreese said as Johnny slid into the booth across from him

"Let's make this fast." Johnny said, as the waitress walked up to their table.

"Know what you want?" the waitress asked

"I'm not hungry." Johnny said

"How's the corned beef hash?" Kreese asked

"It's fine." the waitress said

"I'll have it we'll done. And bring me a cup of Sanka. Red-hot. Just like you dollface." Kreese said

"Right." the waitress said as she grabbed his order and then stepped back into the kitchen.

"Reminds of a girl I knew in Panama. Spent some time down there in '89, helping the delta boys get that son of a bitch Noriega." Kreese said

"What the hell, do you want?" Johnny asked

"Are you familiar with brumation?" Kreese asked, as the blonde crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "In the winter, some animals bury themselves in a hole and sleep there for mouths."

"It's called hibernation." Johnny corrected

"No. That's for warm-blooded creatures. For the cold-blooded like snakes, it's brumation. A snake buries himself in a hole. The only difference is.... the snake doesn't sleep. He stays awake, all winter, waiting for the right moment to emerge. And that moment is now." Kreese explained.

"Oh, is it?" Johnny asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"Kid, I've been all over the world. After Cobra Kai shut down, I knew I had to keep fighting to stay alive. I ran strikes in Desert Storm, I trained SEALS in Afghanistan. All off the books. Buried, waiting. When I climbed out of my hole, the whole world wasn't the same. Our society has gotten weak. Kids today are coddled. They got trophies for showing up. Something's gotta be done. Someone's gotta step in and stop the ass kicking and start the ass kicking. That's why we're here. The world needs Cobra Kai." Kreese said

"You know, that's a nice little speech. The problem is, there is no we." Johnny said

"I'm just saying I can help you." Kreese said

"I don't need your help." Johnny said

"You may not think you need my help but those students—"

Johnny angrily slammed his fist down on the table and pointed his finger at him. "You stay the hell away from my students, you understand? You ruined my life."

"Johnny, we've had our disagreements, but ruined your life? Come on. You had no life before you'd met me? Remember?" Kreese said

"Yeah, yeah, I remember. I remember you doing back then what you're doing right now. Trying to find my weakness. But I'm not a kid anymore, and you're not my Sensei. There's only one sensei in Cobra Kai. Me. That's how it's gonna stay." Johnny stated, grabbing his jacket from the booth and stood straight up. "You are right about one thing though. The world may need Cobra Kai, but we don't need you." he added before he left the building

──────

Stella parked outside of the Reseda apartment complex. Putting the impala in park, she placed her sunglasses on top of her head, got out and walked up to the door, and knocked a couple of times until she was greeted by a smiling Janette.

"There's my beautiful granddaughter." Janette smiled as she embraced her granddaughter. "You know you don't have to knock on the door. Get in here."

Stella smiled as she embraced her grandmother, then asked, "Hey grandma, where's dad? We were supposed to have lunch today."

As if on cue, Nathan strolled into the livingroom from his bedroom holding a file regarding a case he was working on, then smiled at his daughter. "Hey hon."

"Hey daddy." Stella smiled softly as she embraced her father. "You ready to go? I have it turned on Prime Country for you."

Nathan furrowed his brow in confusion and gave his daughter a quizzical look. "Ready for what?"

Stella looked as if she had been hit with a ton of bricks, a look her father didn't see, but Janette sure did, and she didn't like it, not one bit. Janette wrapped an arm around her granddaughter's shoulder, while she scolded her son, while Stella's tears fell. "Nathan, you promised your daughter you would take her to lunch."

Stella scoffed and rolled her eyes in annoyance, all while trying to hide the fact, her heart was broken. "You know what, don't even worry about it, it's fine."

"Stella—" Nathan was cut off by his daughter

"No, dad." Stella said as she wiped her tears. "You don't get to apologize and expect me not to get upset."

"Stella, I'm sorry." Nathan said as he felt his heart break, watching his daughter fall apart.

"You know after mom died, I took on the parental role, while you were absent. I made sure August got to school. I made sure he had the things he needed, and when he was sick, I soothed every fever and nursed him back to health. I never saw you around, if memory serves, you spent the majority of your time working." Stella openly cried

"Stella, I was there and you know I was—"

"Nathan, shut the hell up and listen for once." Janette scolded

"Look, I know you're grieving, but August and I are grieving as well. You have no idea why he joined Cobra Kai do you?" Stella asked. "Anyway, when you're done with work, let me know, or don't. I really don't give a shit anymore."

Stella slammed the door, and Nathan loudly sighed as he sat the file down on the table, put his hands on the back of the chair, and Janette glanced at her son and shook her head in disappointment. "You know who you remind me of? Your father." Janette said

"Ma." Nathan said

"Look, your father was the most hard working man I know. He worked himself to the bone on our ranch, but he stood for family above everything, just like Ava did. Now, Stella made good points; it shouldn't have been up to her to take care of August after Ava died." Janette said. "Do you know why August joined Cobra Kai?"

"Yeah, he wanted to try something different." Nathan said as he sat down at the table with his mother

"No. August joined Cobra Kai because he was having a hard time after the death of his mother, and Stella, that girl has had trials and tribulations of her own." Janette said

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked

"There's this group of girls, the rich clique from Beverly Hills. They make fun of Stella because she doesn't have her mother. They torment her day in and day out." Janette said as she wiped her own tears

"Why didn't she tell me?" Nathan said

"She tried, but then again, she shouldn't have to." Janette said

"Ma, I have to fix this." Nathan said. "I have to fix my relationship with my daughter."

"You know what you have to do Nathan. Go do it." Janette smiled as she embraced her son.

Nathan glanced at the photo of Ava on the wall, then back at his mother. "I just miss her so damn much, mama. I miss my baby blue." he cried.

Janette kissed her son's temple in reply, then spoke. "I know you do honey, but you can't stop being a father. Those kids need you, and you need them.

──────

Later that afternoon, August and Hawk arrived at the Cobra Kai dojo, talking about what kind of cars they were going to get, when they passed driver's Ed.

"All right, so I get my license next week. My mom's gonna give me her Sentra, I think I'll put a blue racing stripe down the middle, hood to tail." Hawk said

"Subtle. I like it." August said, while Hawk laughed. As the two got closer to the door, they noticed a group of teens standing near the front door. "Looks like we got some new students."

"Fresh meat." Hawk grinned and hastily slapped his chest, then sauntered towards them. August kept his head up, following closely behind him. "Check this out."

"Don't. C'mon man." August said

"Hey, mouth breathers, move it." Hawk demanded, as he approached the two teens that stood by the door 

"Sorry about that. I'll get the door." One of the boys insisted

"So you wanna be Cobra Kais huh? Hawk asked, then put his fist up and acted like he was going to punch them, making them flinch. "You've got a long road ahead of you."

Inside, August and Hawk walked in and noticed the back mirror missing, and furrowed their brows in confusion. There was broken glass scattered on the floor and it looked like a fire had been started.

"What the hell happened here?" August asked

Aisha shrugged then said, "Looks like sensei threw a party."

"Must of been pretty sick of fire got involved." Hawk said

August looked around the room. He didn't think there was a party. It looked like two people had gotten into a fight, but over what? As the new kids were chatting excitedly...

"QUIET!"

The dojo went silent as Johnny walked out of his office in his black gi, approaching the new group of kids. "The dojo's closed to new students today." the blonde stated

"We just wanted to sign up, after we saw the tournament." one of them replied as he stepped forward

"Do I need to say it again? Get out!" Johnny demanded, and the kids left as quickly as they could. "Let 's go, move it. Come back tomorrow. And bring your checkbooks." the blonde said Once the last kid was out of the door, he turned to his students. "Everyone, fall in!"

"Must've have been a rager, Sensei." Hawk grinned.

"Yeah, were you celebrating all weekend?" August questioned.

"Celebrating, what? My students are a bunch of pussies." Johnny spat. "Walker, Hawk, upfront!"

Hestitantly, the two teens stood in the front, facing the other students. "Hawk, did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?" Johnny asked, circling both him and August

"Yes, sensei." Hawk answered, confused as to why he asked.

"Walker, did you purposely attack your apponent's injury?" Johnny asked

"Yes sensei." August answered firmly

"You think that makes you badass?" Johnny asked. The two boys glanced at each other, their mouths opening and closing, unsure of what to say. "What's the matter, too tough a question? Maybe you need some help." the blonde snapped, then turned to Aisha. "Ms. Robinson."

"Yes sensei." Aisha firmly replied

"Two cobras in the jungle. One kills the strongest lion, the other kills a crippled monkey. Which cobra do you wanna be?" Johnny asked.

"The one that killed the lion, sensei." Aisha said

"And why is that?" Johnny asked

"Because it killed a stronger animal." Aisha replied

"Correct! Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is the one who beats his opponent when he's at his strongest. Not when his back is turned. Not when he's injured! Is that understood?" Johnny said

"Yes sensei!" The class answered in unison.

"That means no more cheating. No more fighting dirty. From here on out, those are pussy moves, and you don't wanna be pussies do you?" Johnny asked.

"No, Sensei." The class answered.

"Good. It's why I had you wear your white belts. We're starting over." Johnny stated. He then turned to August and Hawk. "Walker, Hawk, 50 pushups on your knuckles. Ms. Robinson, warm them up."

Aisha nodded and Johnny stormed off to his office, while August and Hawk got down onto their knuckles to begin their push ups.

──────

Nathan parked his truck in the parking lot of Stella's apartment complex, then walked down the hallway to his daughter's apartment as he held a small box in his hand, and Stella's favorite flowers in the other. Knocking on the door, he clung to the hope she would answer.

Stella opened the door, and sarcastically said, "Well, you showed up, so this must be a big deal for you."

"Look Stella, I want to make things right. I want to talk. No fighting, no screaming, just a civilized conversation." Nathan said

Sighing deeply, Stella opened the door for her father. The father and daughter sat on the couch, as Nathan placed the flowers and small box on the coffee table. "So, why are you here dad? I think we said everything that needed to be said."

"I want to apologize." Nathan said. "I didn't know what was going on with you at school. I'm so sorry. If you want to tell me, I'm ready to listen."

"What does it matter? It's all over and done with now." Stella angrily said

"Stella, please. I'm trying." Nathan said

She looked so much like a lady
But she was so much like a child

Sighing deeply, Stella turned to her father, and fiddled with the string on her shirt. "This group of girls, we call them the Rich Clique from Bel Air, it's like they've had it in for the girls and I since we moved here, especially me, since I don't have a mother anymore. I'm snubbed all the time."

"Stella, I'm so sorry, I had no idea." Nathan said. "I was consumed by my own grief, that I didn't realize what was going on. I just hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me, because, no matter what age you get, you'll always be my little girl."

She always held it deep inside, but somehow I always knew, she'd go away when the grass turned green, and the sky turned baby blue

Stella looked at her father, tears streaming down her beautiful blue eyes, and pulled her father in for a tight embrace. "Of course I forgive you daddy. I love you so much. I never meant anything I said. I'm so sorry."

"I love you too, Stella Blue. I'm the one who's sorry." Nathan said as he held on to his daughter

"I know I have to move on from your mom, but I can't bring myself to do it. How could I? She brought colors to my life that my eyes had never touched." Nathan said. "That woman was something special."

Like a breath of spring she came and left, and I still don't know why so, here's to you and whoever holds my baby blue tonight

"Daddy, there's not a timeline on grief." Stella said. "Grief is a tricky thing, which you know that. It hits you in waves."

"How is it the kid knows more than the parent?" Nathan asked as he wiped a tear that fell.

"Because I had great parents." Stella smiled.

Nathan held his daughter close as he smiled at the photo of him and Ava on the wall. His baby blue. "She was so proud of you." Nathan cried quietly. "And so am I."

"Thanks daddy." Stella smiled, as the father and daughter pulled away from their embrace.

"I picked these up for you, because I knew they were your favorite." Nathan smiled as he gave Stella the bouquet of pink carnations.

"Thanks daddy." Stella smiled as she got up to put the flowers in a vase. "Dad, I want to tell you something, but I don't want you to freak out."

"Can't promise you anything." Nathan said as he walked into the kitchen, and had one hand on his hip, and one hand on the counter.

"You know Johnny, August's sensei?" Stella said

"Yes." Nathan said

"Well, last night, he came by, and we talked about things between us. We like each other, and we're seeing where it goes." Stella said

Nathan sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Are you sure this is what you want Stella?"

"Yes daddy. It's what I want." Stella smiled. "At first, Johnny annoyed the hell out of me, but now, I want to be around him all the time."

"Well, if this is what you want, I'll support you, but if he hurts you, I hope he knows, I know how to use a gun." Nathan said

Stella rolled her eyes, and chuckled. "Dad."

"Well." Nathan chuckled, then walked to the door. "Anyway, I better get going. But if you'd like, we can have lunch tomorrow."

"I'd love that daddy." Stella smiled as she embraced her father. "Be careful. I love you."

"I love you too, Stella Blue." Nathan smiled as he kissed his daughter's head, and walked out the door.

Baby blue was the color of her eyes, baby blue like the Colorado skies, like a breath of spring she came and left, and I still don't know why so, here's to you and whoever holds my baby blue tonight