Dedicated to @Abbywatson4, @Robby2Keene, @NewYorkDoll, @madi658, @Krystal1601, M_Mazariegos, milkxlawrence, and @Suz1020 for their amazing support of my work!

Extra big shoutout to the Samguel shipper followers, LOVESTODOODLE and @CamrynKissel!

Lastly, special thanks to my new follower, @lovecrazythings6. Really appreciate it.

Love you all and hope you enjoy :)

"Okay, Miguel, you know what you have to do. Just tell her the truth and she'll understand, hopefully," thought Miguel, nervously as he rang the LaRusso house doorbell.

It was only six am in the morning, though he knew the LaRussos would be up to accommodate both Sam's and Anthony's school schedules. Of course, on a typical day Miguel would have been going too, if not for his injuries from the brawl.

I'm pretty sure the school is probably starting to get annoyed at how often I've technically had to use that excuse. Though, it's never been by choice.

Miguel waited for a few minutes without any luck of one of the LaRussos answering the door, the soles of his orange sneakers anxiously tapping against the first step's stone.

"Sam, Mr. LaRusso, are you home?" Called Miguel, gently tapping his knuckles against the door.

He felt an unsettling shiver rush up his spine as he stood just outside their house's door, awaiting his girlfriend's possible response. The LaRussos were some of the most chivalrous people he'd met so, there's no way they'd just be ignoring the door, unless they didn't have a choice.

What if something happened to them?

He didn't think Silver would openly attack the LaRussos at their house, nor any of the other cobras, except the one person left unaccounted for.

His dad.

Johnny had mentioned vaguely to Miguel after the party that his father had attacked him, willingly helping Silver like he'd so proudly told them he would in Mexico. He could still feel the painful black eye his father had given him in a fit of fury when he'd kept mentioning how much he cared about him.

I just, I just shouldn't think about it, like my mom told me to do from the beginning.

Never had he been so wrong about something than when he decided to run off to Mexico alone, but there was something hidden deep within his chest that shone through the aching pain he felt every time he thought about his father, hope. He knew all the evidence that was shown pointed to how bad of a man Mike Barnes was. How many people he'd hurt during and after his days as a karate student. He'd seen first hand that he didn't care about anyone but himself, yet a part of Miguel was still desperate to see the good in any amount of good in him there was.

I wish I could just let this one thing go and accept that he'll never care about me, at least not in the way I want him to.

Suddenly, he heard the noise of the polished front door unlocking, the person on the other side very eager to greet him.

"Miguel! I'm so glad to see you!" Exclaimed Sam, throwing her arms around him the second the door had opened.

He was relieved to know that she had only a few minor scrapes from her encounter with Tory that lined mostly her fists from too many blocks and or punches.

It was probably a good thing I didn't intervene, considering how bad things went the first time I did.

"It's great to see you, too," smiled Miguel before pulling his girlfriend into a gentle hug.

Nothing was nicer than the feeling of Sam's head resting so delicately on his shoulder, both the teenagers' troubles seemingly disappearing as they held onto one another as tightly as they could.

This is just one of the many reasons I love her so much.

"I'm going to catch a ride with my dad to school in just a few minutes, but I have a little time to talk first, If you want?" Offered Sam, a hint of hopefulness carrying her sweetly-toned voice.

"Yeah, I'd like that," replied Miguel, falling in line with her steps as they walked along the stone-paved road where the LaRussos' kept their car.

Miguel's eyes fell upon the plentiful rose bushes that surrounded their front yard, their elegant red petals shining under the bright sky.

This place always feels so welcoming, both because of its appearance and the people who live inside it.

"So, how have things been with Mr. LaRusso?" Asked Miguel, his left hand smoothly interlocking with her right as they moved along the path.

"It's actually been pretty good since the whole birthday fight. I think it felt good for him to finally beat Silver at his own game," answered Sam, insightfully.

Miguel nodded, understandingly as she spoke.

Her words seemed like ones of happiness, but her tone portrayed a much different feeling.

"There is something else, though," admitted Sam, suddenly stopping short in her tracks, Miguel quickly following suit with her movements.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me," reassured Miguel, squeezing her hand gently in his.

I want her to know that I support her, no matter what's going on with us.

"When I was fighting Tory, I froze up, but not like at the arcade. It just started feeling wrong, like we were meant to be fighting on the same side. If that even makes any sense," explained Sam, sighing heavily as she seemingly got lost in her own confusing thoughts about the subject.

"Of course it makes sense. Honestly, I started feeling the same way during Robby and I's fight," stated Miguel, gratefully.

After every word spoken, it felt as though all the tension was slowly being removed from their worn bodies, a mutual understanding shared between the two lovers that nothing could ever break.

"Maybe it's for the best. After all, these feuds between all of us have been going on for way too long," added Sam, her blue eyes darting towards the ground, regretfully.

The kids had been unfortunate enough to fall into the same trap their parents had when they were their age, but there was still time left to change that. And that was exactly what Miguel planned to do.

Robby's a good person, just like Sensei always has been. And from now on, I'm not going to let any of our past mistakes stop me from seeing that.

Miguel brushed a strand of her brunette hair out of her face, his fingers placed tenderly against her cheek as they stared into one another's eyes.

"There's something else I need to tell you," spoke Miguel, a tinge of worry seeping into his voice.

I have to say this, for both of our sakes.

Sam nodded, encouragingly as she took in the many details of his brown eyes.

"A few weeks ago when I left after the tournament, I went to Mexico to look for my father. I didn't tell my mom because she told me it wasn't safe, but I just wanted to see his face, to let him know who I really was. But mom was right. He wasn't the man I was hoping he'd be," admitted Miguel, painfully shutting his teary eyes.

"Miguel, I'm so sorry," apologized Sam, sympathetically.

"I know I should have told you earlier, I just didn't really know how to explain it. Or rather, I was hoping things might change," continued Miguel, breathing deeply as he let his heart take full control of his every word.

"I understand, some things we just have to work out for ourselves before we can ask others for help. I know that better than most," reassured Sam, compassion hanging in her every word.

With each word she spoke, it became more and more clear to Miguel how much he loved her.

"Let's just promise each other that no matter what happens with karate, our dads, or college that this, us, will never change because I will always need you, Samantha LaRusso," smiled Miguel, tears of joy sparkling in his big brown eyes.

"I promise," she smiled back before leaning in for a romantic kiss, her hand placed gracefully against the side of his cheek.

I might not know where I'm going or who I am, but I'll always be glad to have someone as good as her in my life.