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"𝐈𝐓'𝐒 so good to be home." Lori said as she sat in the front seat of the truck, and Carter, Kara, Amy, and April sat in the back and Stella drove out of the Austin airport.

"No kidding. I love Cali, but there's nothing like home sweet home." Kara said as she sipped her Starbucks drink.

"How are things at the hospital? How are things in The Valley?" Stella asked as she got on the interstate

"They're good, I'm glad I have a two week vacation, and I'm using it to come and see you." April smiled. "I've missed my PEDS unit partner."

"I've missed you too." Stella smiled. "I'm so sorry I left, but—"

"No need to explain, we understand." April smiled. "It's all good, and when and if you decide to come back, Mrs. Goodwin has that job on hold for you."

"That makes me feel so much better." Stella smiled. "Now, tell me about the latest gossip in the valley. I need to know."

"Asshole Silver is expanding dojos all over the valley." Lori said. "It's a good thing you guys left when you did."

"August and I just needed to come back and find some kind of peace as we never got that after mom died. And at the tournament, he felt like he had to win, because he did last year, and it was just too much." Stella said

"How does August feel about being home?" Carter asked as he sipped his coffee.

"Honestly, he's happier than I've seen him in a while. He's gotten back into riding bulls again." Stella said.

"Wait, is he thinking about competing in the rodeo like your uncle Lane?" Lori asked

"No, as far as I know he's not." Stella said. "But he could change his mind."

"If it's not karate, it's riding bulls. What are we gonna do with August?" Kara chuckled

"You got me."

──────

"Relax, I told you, Robby's not home." Johnny reassured, as he and August walked into the guest house which had been set up like an escape room

August observed the living room, and noticed the beer can boxes, which were made into makeshift doors, taped on the walls and it blocked off the hallway. Then, there was a piece of cardboard on the wall above it that had 'JAIL' written on it.

"What's all of this?" August questioned

"Ah, don't worry about it." Johnny said

Johnny walked through the makeshift doors and down the hallway, knocking on a door, then came back in the living room, with Robby behind him.

August looked at the blonde in disbelief. "Dude, you literally just said he wasn't here."

Johnny just shrugged his shoulders and deadpanned, "Yeah, I lied again. Not my fault you fell for it twice."

"So why am I here?" August asked. "I have to help uncle Aaron saddle break some mares."

"You guys are right. Tricking you wasn't my best effort. So I did some interneting. Found a bunch of strategies for building and teamwork through cooperative exercises. There's this one that's the least lamest one is called an escape room. How it works—" Johnny started

"I know what an escape room is and I'm not doing it." Robby said

"That goes double for me." August said, as he turned to open the door, it it didn't open.

"I reversed the doorknobs. It's locked from the inside, and this is the only key." Johnny said, holding up a gold key in his hand. August and Robby watched as the blonde flicked on the garbage disposal

Rolling his eyes, August said, "Nice work genius. So if this fails, how are we gonna get out?"

"Glued the windows shut too. No one's getting out unless you work together." Johnny said. "Now, as I was saying, the way it works is, you start with a theme, okay? Our theme is the Lincoln County War. New Mexico territory, 1878. Lincoln County regulators Jose Chavez y Chavez and Josiah Doc Scurlock have been arrested to be hanged. You're Chavez, obviously."

"This is the plot of Young Guns 2." August said

"Shit. You saw it?" Johnny said

August rolled his eyes. "Of course I've seen it. It's one of my dad's favorite movies."

"Dad, you're missing the point. You could lock us in here forever, and we're never gonna be friends." Robby stated.

"Why are you suddenly pushing this so hard? You never cared before." August said

"Because me and your sister....We're all sort of on our way to becoming a family." Johnny said

"A family?! Me and him? Are you joking?" August spat

"Maybe not the traditional kind." Johnny said

"No, not any kind. You two have your thing, whatever. Keep forcing this, all you'll do is get his ass kicked." Robby said, as August took a step towards him.

Getting in Robby's face, and pointing a finger in his face, August angrily said, "Let me tell you something city boy, you ain't in the valley no more. You're in my home state now. You're surrounded by rodeo cowboys who are so pissed off from getting bucked off their bulls or their bucking horses that they'll take it out on anyone and kick their ass until it's black and blue. And let me tell you something else runner up, you try to start a fight with them, you'll get your skinny ass kicked."

A knock was heard at the door and it was Janette, she walked in, with a look of disappointment on her face. "August Lane, that's enough. Both of you." she added as she looked at Robby.

August shook his head and walked out the door, while Robby went back into his room. "I screwed up Janette. I screwed up. Just like always." Johnny said

Janette pulled Johnny in for a motherly hug and kissed his temple. "You'll figure it out, honey. I know it's hard, but you always do."

──────

"You're pregnant?" Lori smiled as she, Stella, Carter, Kara, and Amy sat in the diner eating lunch. "That's wonderful babes. I can't believe I'm going to be an auntie."

"We're so happy for you." Amy smiled as she gave Stella a side embrace.

"How did Johnny react when he found out?" April asked as she sipped her lemonade

"Well, when I told him I thought I might be pregnant, he went with me to pick up the test, then he saw a father trying to console his baby and I guess it brought back memories of him not being prepared. But it's all good. He's made the guest house baby proof." Stella said

"I know he's nervous now, but once he holds the baby, he's gonna know, that everything will be alright, plus he's older than he was back then." April said.

"She does have a valid point." Kara said as she dipped her fries in ketchup.

"Here's the million dollar question, how are you feeling?" Carter asked as the waitress refilled their drinks

"Honestly, I'm nervous, because I don't know what kind of mother I'll be." Stella said

"Hey, you're gonna be an amazing mom. Look at how you took care of August after your mom died. Remember when your parents were at that Texas rangers convention and he came down with strep throat?" Lori said

"Yeah. I was so worried about him." Stella said. "I didn't know what to do, so I just let my instincts kick in until mom and dad got home."

"Exactly." Kara said. "The point is, those were your motherly instincts, and you're gonna be a badass mom."

"Always remember, no matter what, we've got your back." Amy smiled

"Thanks guys." Stella smiled

"So what is it, niece or nephew?" Carter asked as he ate his burger

"We don't know yet, it's too early to tell." Stella said as she sipped her lemonade

"They'll know in about a month or so." Kara said

"If you want my opinion, I think it's a girl, and she'll have Stella's attitude." Lori said. "We'll have a little Stella walking around."

"Nah, I bet it's a boy." Carter said.

"Whatever it is, it's gonna be all you and Johnny." Amy said

"With Stella's attitude." Lori laughed

"Hey, would y'all get off my attitude?" Stella laughed

──────

Later that afternoon, Johnny was cleaning the glue off the windows, when a knock was heard at the door. "You'll have to open it from out there." the blonde said

"Hey, mom told me what happened. Thought I would stop by after work and check on you." Nathan said

Johnny stood up and walked to the kitchen and grabbed two coors banquets from the fridge, while Nathan sat on the couch. "Well Robby and August are at each other's throats again. This was my dumb idea to iron it out, but it crashed and burned." the blonde said as he joined Nathan in the living room while giving him a beer

Nathan opened his beer and took a swig. "So much for goggles advice on conflict resolution." Johnny said

"Wow, I'm surprised someone who's stuck in the 80s knows how to use goggle or the phrase conflinct resolution." Nathan said.

"Hey." Johnny chuckled

"Hey, it's obvious you care about both of them. So I have a pretty good feeling you're gonna work it out." Nathan said.

"Yeah." Johnny said

"You know, when I first met you I hated your guts? I kept my shot gun loaded because I saw how you looked at my daughter." Nathan said

"You knew I liked her?" Johnny said

"Please. I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night. Now here we are, you're the father of my grandchild." Nathan said as he took a swig of his beer. "Classic Johnny Lawrence growing on us all. Don't tell anyone I said that, or you and I will fight, no tournament rules. We'll fight cowboy style."

Johnny chuckled before Nathan continued. "Maybe that's how you and Daniel should have done things back then. Just gotten it out of y'all's system.

"He might have. Three points is all he had in him." Johnny said

Nathan rolled his eyes and chuckled. "John, I guess what I'm trying to say, is what those boys need is to fight. Like real men. No tournament rules. But, don't them get hurt either. They both have a lot of anger in them, now normally, I'm not one to encourage violence, but in this case, if it's what it takes to get them over their little grudge, have at it."

"Yeah." Johnny said

"Well, I gotta get back." Nathan said. "I don't want mom climbing up there to clean the gutters. She could easily fall." he said, as he turned and headed towards the front door

Later that day, Aaron pulled up to the guest house with August in the passenger seat, while Johnny stood outside and blew an air horn. Robby exited the home looking annoyed.

"Why am I here?" August asked. "I thought we were going to uncle Joe's to help him with the bulls for the weekend."

"That's not exactly true." Aaron said as he got out. "We'll go there next."

"What the hell—" Robby started but was cut off by Johnny

"QUIET!" Johnny shouted, then spoke. "You wanna hang on to your grudge, fine. At least be men about it. Put your fists where your mouths are."

"You want us to do what?" August asked

"Fight it out." Johnny said. "No points. No mats. Keep fighting until you get it all out of your systems."

"What, here? Right now?" August asked.

"It's a time, this is a place. Unless that was just talk?" Johnny said

"Not for me." August said.

"Or me." Robby said

"All right. Let's get on with it." Johnny said, and Aaron stood beside the blonde and watched as the two teens got into their fighting positions. "Come on, is that all you got? Thought you guys were sworn enemies."

The fight grew more aggressive, and Robby swept August's leg, making him fall on his back. August himself got some kicks in, then Robby got aggressive, then the fight was led towards the barn, eventually up towards the loft

"John, Abilene hasn't had anyone to repair that barn. They could fall right through that old wood." Aaron said, then he and Johnny ran into the old barn, where August and Robby were fighting on the loft

"Hey, barn's out of bounds!" Johnny called out, but the two teens ignored him, as they kept fighting on the loft.

"Boys, fight's over!" Aaron called. "August Lane, Robby, knock it off right now!" he scolded

August punched Robby in the face, and the fight escalated, even after Johnny and Aaron tried to get them to stop.

"All right guys, that's enough!" Johnny said. "Robby! August! Knock it off!"

Robby was now leaning over the unsturdy railing of the loft, as August had a tight grip on his shirt. Smelling his mother's signature perfume, and feeling her hand on his, then seeing her smiling apparition, then he let out a sigh of relief, and pulled Robby back, as Johnny and Aaron walked up on the loft and stood back.

"Why'd you hold back?" Robby asked

"I didn't get into karate to hurt people. I did it to learn how to defend myself, and to find a balance." August said as he sat down on a bale of hay.

"Yeah, I understand that." Robby said as he sat beside August. "Can I ask why you got into karate in the first place?"

August sighed then turned to face Robby. "Because when I first moved to the valley I was bullied, and I was still grieving over my mother. She meant the world to Stella and I. She never approved of violence or fights, but she was always supportive of my sister and I in everything we did. Last time we fought like this, how come you didn't hold back?"

"I just wanted to finish the fight. I mean, not like that. I just.... I had tunnel vision and I got so angry that I just.... I mean, I barely knew where we were. I'd take it back in a second if I could." Robby said. "I was the cause of the worst moment in your life. And if it's any consolation, it was the worst moment in my life too."

"I forgive you. You know, if you're gonna stay for a while, you need to get out of the guest house, there's a lot of great hang outs around here. I know the rodeo might not be your scene, but you can give it a try. Every weekend, they have the professional ones called the PBR, they're a lot of fun." August invited.

"I'd like that." Robby said as he and August stood up, and shared a supportive five

"So, is it over? Are you guys good?" Johnny asked, and the two nodded their heads. "Thank God. Because if you two still hated each other when the baby gets here..."

"Baby?" August questioned

"Wait what?" Robby smiled

"What, like you and my sister?" August questioned excitedly

Johnny sighed as Aaron put his hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Yeah, we're, uh, having a baby. We're supposed to tell you together, so make sure you act surprised."

"Holy shit!" August shouted in excitement. "I'm gonna be an uncle!"

"Dad, that's.... That's awesome." Robby said, and walked up to his father.

Aaron and August walked up to Johnny and Robby and pulled them in for an embrace. "Welcome to the family Johnny and Robby."