chapter fifty-eight:
❛ rattled ❜

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Arizona sat cross-legged on her bed, bathed in the soft glow of her laptop screen. The room was quiet except for the occasional sound of her fingers tapping against the keyboard. The scent of sandalwood incense curled through the air, blending with the faint hum of the night outside. She took a slow, measured breath, her eyes scanning the final review of her Okinawa Study Abroad Program application.

This was it. The chance to study in the birthplace of Miyagi-Do. A place steeped in history, discipline, and maybe even the kind of peace she'd been searching for. She hesitated for only a second before pressing Submit. The confirmation message popped up instantly, but it didn't feel quite real yet. A new path was opening in front of her-whether she was ready for it or not.

Before she could dwell on it, the doorbell rang. Arizona blinked, pulled out of her thoughts. She glanced at the time-kind of late for visitors. Pushing off her bed, she moved through the dimly lit hallway, the wood floor cool against her feet. She swung open the front door to see Sam LaRusso standing on the porch, her hands buried in the pockets of her hoodie, the crisp night air ruffling her dark hair.

Arizona tilted her head, a smirk ghosting over her lips. "The universe brings us visitors like the wind carries the leaves," she mused, stepping aside to let Sam in. "Come in, traveler."

Sam exhaled a small laugh as she crossed the threshold. "You've been on your meditation app again, haven't you?"

Arizona shrugged, shutting the door behind them. "Or maybe I've just achieved enlightenment before you."

Sam rolled her eyes but smiled as she followed Arizona back to her room. The familiar space was a reflection of Arizona's mind-half chaos, half serenity. Books stacked haphazardly on the desk, a string of fairy lights dimly flickering along the ceiling, a mix of band posters and abstract art covering the walls. The air smelled of incense and something faintly floral, like lingering perfume.

Arizona sat back down at her laptop, drumming her fingers lightly on the keyboard. "I just applied for the Okinawa Study Abroad Program," she said offhandedly, as if she hadn't just potentially decided her future with one click.

Sam stopped in her tracks. "Wait-the same one I'm applying for?"

Arizona nodded. "Figured if I'm gonna study somewhere, I might as well go to the heart of Miyagi-Do."

Sam's face lit up, her earlier surprise giving way to excitement. "That's amazing! If we both get in, we could be training in Okinawa together. Like, real training, real history... not just watching old VHS tapes of my dad's sensei."

Arizona smirked at that, leaning back against her pillows. "I like the sound of that. Who knows? Maybe we'll find a secret scroll hidden in the mountains."

Sam snorted. "Okay, Indiana Jones."

Arizona just shrugged, the teasing smile still lingering on her lips. But before the thought could fully settle, Sam's expression shifted, turning slightly more serious. She sat down at the edge of the bed, leaning forward slightly.

"Speaking of training," Sam said, "I actually came over to see if you wanted to come with me to Tory's. See if she wants to spar and get some practice in for the Sekai Taikai."

Arizona's brows lifted slightly. "So it's official? The tournament is back on?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah. My dad just confirmed it. It's happening."

For a moment, Arizona didn't say anything. Sekai Taikai. The highest level of competition they'd ever faced. The kind of tournament that could define them as martial artists. She knew what it meant. What it required.

She turned her gaze back to her laptop, the confirmation email for Okinawa still glowing on the screen. Two paths, both leading her forward.

Finally, she exhaled, closing the laptop with a soft click. "Alright," she said, standing up and stretching. "Let's go see what Tory's up to."

The late afternoon sun hung low, its golden rays casting long shadows across the peaceful grounds of Miyagi-Do. The wind stirred the leaves in the trees, the rustling branches adding to the dojo's quiet serenity. But inside, beneath that calm, an unmistakable energy crackled in the air-anticipation, determination, the thrill of an impending fight.

Dylan walked in alongside Miguel and Robby, the three of them stepping onto the familiar wooden floor. Their muscles ached from training, but the Sekai Taikai loomed closer each day, and they had no time to rest. Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang had come a long way-but was it enough?

Dylan's sharp eyes swept across the dojo, immediately locking onto Eli and Demetri. The two of them stood off to the side, deep in conversation. Eli's arms were crossed over his chest, his signature mohawk still growing back from its shaved state, while Demetri gestured animatedly toward a large cardboard box on the floor between them.

Something was definitely up.

Robby was the first to break the silence. "What's up, guys?" he called, his voice casual, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity beneath it.

Eli glanced up, his mouth twisting into a smirk. "Hey, there he is! The future champion of the Sekai Taikai." His voice dripped with mock fanfare, but there was admiration behind his teasing tone.

Robby scoffed, shaking his head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he muttered. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face, something that didn't go unnoticed by the others. He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair before adding, "Nobody scored a point on Axel all tournament."

The dojo fell silent for a beat. The name alone sent a ripple of unease through the group. Axel Vargas. The fighter who had plowed through everyone in his path, his speed and precision unlike anything they'd faced before. Not a single opponent had landed a point on him.

Dylan's gaze snapped to Robby, sensing the frustration in his stance. He wasn't about to let doubt creep in-not now. He clapped a hand on Robby's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Come on, Rob. Don't start thinking like that now. We're gonna take him down."

Eli cracked his knuckles, his usual cocky grin widening. "Yeah, well, that's about to change." His voice was sharp, filled with that competitive fire they all shared.

Miguel, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke, his attention shifting toward the mysterious box at Demetri's feet. His brow furrowed as he gestured toward it. "What's all this?"

Demetri straightened up, eyes glinting with barely contained excitement. He patted the top of the box, drawing out the moment like he was unveiling some ancient Miyagi-Do secret technique.

"Oh, this?" he said, his voice dripping with feigned mystery.

Miguel raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that."

Demetri grinned, finally letting the tension snap as he declared, "This is how Miyagi-Do is gonna win the Sekai Taikai."

A charged silence settled over the group, and then Robby, Miguel, and Dylan all exchanged a look. Whatever was in that box, it was important.

Dylan felt his excitement spike, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He rubbed his hands together, his grin widening. "Oh, this is gonna be cool."

The game was about to change-and they were ready.

Sam and Arizona stood outside Tory's apartment complex, the metal railing cool beneath their fingers as they leaned against it. The night air was thick with the scent of warm asphalt and distant takeout, the hum of the city providing a constant, unintrusive backdrop. A car door slammed somewhere down the street, but their focus was on the entrance to the complex.

Sam shifted on her feet, arms crossed over her chest. "You sure she's gonna be cool with this?" she asked Arizona, glancing sideways at her.

Arizona tilted her head, considering. "Cool? No. But willing? That depends."

Before Sam could ask what she meant, the familiar jingle of keys broke the air, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. Both girls turned as Tory Nichols stepped into view, her expression immediately narrowing in confusion when she spotted them standing outside her door. She carried a bag of groceries in one hand, her grip firm but casual.

"LaRusso? Arizona?" Tory asked, slowing her pace as she looked between the two of them, suspicion creeping into her voice.

Arizona offered a small, easy smile. "Hey, Tory."

Tory's eyes darted between them before she shifted the bag in her arms. "What are you doing here?"

Sam took a step forward, her voice even but sure. "The Miyagi-Do boys are training together. I know we have to fight each other in the semis, but I figured if I'm gonna fight the best, I wanna train with the best." She gestured to Arizona with a flick of her head. "Plus, we have Arizona to play referee."

Arizona, ever the opportunist, placed a hand over her heart and gave a dramatic, exaggerated bow. "At your service."

Tory, however, didn't so much as crack a smile. Instead, she exhaled sharply, already turning toward her door. "I'm not fighting. I quit."

The words landed like a weight, and for a second, neither Sam nor Arizona knew how to respond. They exchanged a glance before both took a step forward, as if afraid she'd disappear inside before they could stop her.

"Wait, what?" they said at the same time, their voices overlapping.

Tory, unfazed, slid her key into the lock and pushed open the door. She didn't look back as she muttered, "You should be happy. One less person for you to fight."

She disappeared inside, leaving the door slightly ajar. Arizona and Sam hesitated for only a second before following her in.

The apartment was dimly lit, the only source of illumination coming from the soft glow of the kitchen lights. It was a small but clean space, the scent of fabric softener mingling with the lingering smell of something slightly burnt, like toast left in the toaster too long. Tory walked straight to the kitchen, setting her grocery bag down on the counter and immediately beginning to unpack, her movements brisk and deliberate-like she was trying to avoid looking at them.

Arizona leaned against the counter, watching her closely. "Have you talked to Robby about this?"

Tory didn't even glance up as she pulled a carton of eggs from the bag and shoved them into the fridge. "I don't need to talk to Robby," she said flatly. "I'm not putting that Cobra Kai gi on ever again. You're not gonna convince me otherwise."

Sam crossed her arms, letting out a slow exhale. "That means I advance to the finals."

Arizona frowned, tilting her head. "Then that means you have to fight that girl, Zara."

Tory scoffed, grabbing a box of cereal and shoving it into a cabinet with a little too much force. "Nobody deserves to get their ass kicked more than that bitch."

Sam watched her carefully, then took a step closer. "Then help me train to beat her."

Tory paused, her fingers curling around the edge of the counter. For the first time since they'd arrived, she hesitated.

Sensing an opening, Arizona grinned and nudged her lightly. "Come on, Tory. This could be your last opportunity to try and kick Sam in the face."

Sam let out a small laugh, rolling her eyes as she smacked Arizona's arm lightly. "Yeah, thanks for that."

Tory sighed, pressing her hands flat against the counter. A long beat passed before she finally lifted her head, meeting Sam's gaze with something that wasn't quite reluctance-but wasn't full commitment, either.

"...Fine," she breathed out, shaking her head slightly.

Sam smirked. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

Tory rolled her eyes but couldn't completely hide the flicker of amusement that passed through them. "Just don't start crying when I kick you in the face."

Sam grinned. "We'll see about that."

Dylan adjusted the last few cables, helping his cousin Demetri set up the equipment while Eli helped Robby strap on the training vest. The dojo was filled with the quiet hum of electronics and the occasional rustle of movement as they prepped for something big-something that could give Robby the edge he needed.

"We call it Fully Integrated Generative Haptic Technology," Demetri announced, eyes gleaming with pride as he tapped a few keys on the laptop.

"Or FIGHT," Dylan added with a nod, emphasizing the acronym like it was some top-tier invention-and to be fair, it kinda was.

"It is the most advanced karate training program in the world," Demetri stated matter-of-factly, looking up at Robby with an almost smug grin.

Robby raised a brow, his arms crossed over his chest. "Okay... what does it do?"

Eli smirked and handed him a pair of sleek black goggles. "Put these on, and you'll see."

As Robby adjusted the goggles over his eyes, Dylan glanced over at the computer screen, watching as the program loaded, pulling in starting data. The screen flickered with lines of code, wireframe models, and fight analytics.

Miguel stepped up beside them, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What's up?" he asked.

Dylan turned his attention back to Robby, whose posture had shifted slightly. Even though the goggles obscured his eyes, his body language said it all-he was caught off guard.

"So... do you see Axel through the goggles?" Dylan asked, leaning in slightly.

There was a pause. Then-

"Whoa," was all Robby managed to say.

Miguel perked up. "What do you see? Is it cool?" He began wiggling his arms dramatically, doing an exaggerated wave, before breaking into a terrible attempt at flossing.

Dylan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dude, stop."

Robby pulled the goggles up onto his forehead, shaking his head slightly. "This is trippy."

Demetri, completely unbothered by Miguel's antics, continued setting up. "We uploaded all the data from Axel's fights to develop a predictive algorithm that can be fed to Miguel's headphones."

Miguel, still grinning, grabbed a pair of sleek over-ear headphones and put them on.

"Yeah, so today," Eli said, flashing a grin, "Miguel is Axel."

"With more reps than you'd ever get in an actual tournament, this is a good chance to juice your odds," Dylan pointed out, arms folded as he watched the setup finalize.

Robby rolled his shoulders. "Okay, so... what are my odds now?"

Eli hesitated, glancing at Demetri. "Well, the program's still in its infancy, so..."

Robby turned his attention to the computer screen, where a bright, flashing percentage appeared:

SUCCESS PROBABILITY: 12%.

Robby's expression twisted in disbelief. "I only have a twelve percent chance of winning?"

Demetri shrugged, typing something into the computer. "Think about it. No one's been able to score a point on the guy. And the last person who fought him ended up dead."

Without hesitation, Dylan smacked Demetri upside the head. Hard.

"Ow!" Demetri yelped, rubbing the back of his skull.

"All things considered, twelve percent is actually a pretty great place to build from," Dylan reassured Robby, ignoring his cousin's glare.

Demetri huffed but reached out to pat Robby's shoulder. "And, y'know... we'd be bummed if you died."

Robby exhaled, shaking his head, but there was a small smirk playing at his lips. He and Miguel stepped onto the sparring deck, squaring up as Demetri, Dylan, and Eli gathered back at the setup table.

"All right, we're gonna start you guys off a little slow," Demetri said, plugging his laptop back into the system, watching as the data adjusted in real-time.

"It takes a couple of moves to get it dialed in, all right?" Dylan added, glancing at Robby, who gave a small nod as he slid the goggles back on.

Miguel adjusted his stance and pulled the headphones snug over his ears.

Eli clapped his hands together. "Ready? Fight."

Miguel moved fast. Before Robby could properly react, Miguel threw a sharp front roundhouse, catching Robby off guard. The impact sent him stumbling backward, his footing completely thrown off as he hit the mat hard.

Dylan sucked in his teeth.

Eli chuckled, shaking his head. "Good start."

The Valley Sports Center stood still in the dim evening light, the silence inside almost deafening compared to the usual buzz of competition and training. The polished floors gleamed faintly under the overhead fluorescents, the lingering scent of sweat, rubber mats, and dust from past battles clinging to the air. It had been a battleground for all of them at one point or another, filled with victories, losses, and grudges that still simmered beneath the surface.

Sam, Arizona, and Tory stepped inside cautiously, their footsteps echoing against the walls. There was something almost surreal about being here again, especially under these circumstances.

"Breaking and entering," Tory muttered, her voice dripping with amusement as she looked around the empty gym, her bag slung over her shoulder.

Arizona smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Right. Can't be good for both of our probations."

Tory let out a short, sharp laugh, shaking her head. "Wouldn't have expected this from Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes and Zen Master."

Sam rolled her eyes at the jab but smirked nonetheless. "Well, if you want to be the best, you can't be afraid to get your hands dirty."

Arizona gestured toward Sam with a knowing look. "Her dad's a former board member, so we have lifetime privileges."

Tory scoffed, tossing her bag onto the mat. "Right. 'Lifetime privileges.'" Her gaze drifted around the gym, the ghost of old fights flickering in her eyes. "Things were a lot different the last time we were here."

Arizona stiffened slightly, her arms crossing over her chest. The memory was still raw-how she had fought with everything she had, how she had come so close to victory, only for it to slip through her fingers. She should have won. She would have won, if things had gone just a little differently.

"We pretty much hated each other's guts," Arizona murmured, her tone somewhere between a statement and a reluctant reflection.

Tory let the words hang in the air for a beat before shifting her stance, rolling her shoulders as she prepared herself. Then, with a smirk, she met Sam's gaze head-on.

"Well, you'd better still fight like you hate me," she said, unzipping her hoodie and tossing it aside. "If you've got any shot of taking me down."

Sam raised an eyebrow, stepping onto the mat with a slow, measured confidence. "Is that so?"

Arizona watched as the familiar fire sparked between them. This was what they thrived on-the challenge, the push, the fight. Even if their grudges had cooled, their competitive spirits burned as strong as ever.

With a quiet chuckle, Arizona made her way over to the bleachers and took a seat, stretching her legs out in front of her. She leaned back, resting her weight on her palms, her gaze flicking between Sam and Tory as they squared off.

"Don't hold back," she called out, her tone teasing yet expectant. "I'd hate to be bored."

Arizona sat on the bleachers of the Valley Sports Center, her eyes scanning the mat where Sam and Tory were sparring. The sound of sneakers scuffing against the floor, the swish of limbs cutting through the air, and the thud of punches landing filled the gym. The atmosphere was electric, charged with focus and intensity.

Sam's movements were fluid, sharp-a marked difference from the unsure, hesitant fighter Arizona had first encountered. She could see the determination in Sam's eyes, the hunger for improvement. Across from her, Tory moved like a well-oiled machine-her kicks fast and unpredictable, her stance grounded and solid. The two had come a long way from their early days of confrontation, now engaging in this sparring match with a sense of mutual respect that Arizona had never thought she'd see.

Tory threw a quick jab, followed by a spinning back kick, catching Sam just a little off guard. Sam stumbled back but recovered quickly, grinning at the challenge. "Nice one," she called out.

Tory shrugged nonchalantly. "You were expecting less?"

Arizona leaned forward on the bleacher, her elbows resting on her knees. She watched intently as Sam bounced back and launched herself into an aggressive combination of strikes, testing Tory's defense. Arizona couldn't help but smile at the way they pushed each other, each punch, each kick, each block feeling like a step in their growth. It was rare to see this kind of sparring between them-not that it was without its tension, but the animosity had dulled into something that resembled sportsmanship.

Suddenly, Arizona's phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at it but didn't pick it up right away. She was too engrossed in the fight, in the raw display of power between Sam and Tory. The buzz came again-this time more insistent-and Arizona felt a small tug of curiosity. She fished the phone from her pocket, quickly unlocking it.

The message that appeared on the screen made her pause, her eyes widening.

Miguel: She's here. My baby sister is here.

Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, everything around her seemed to blur. Her mind raced, not fully processing the weight of the message. She reread it a few times, just to make sure she wasn't imagining things. But there it was: Miguel's mom had given birth to his baby sister.

A huge smile spread across Arizona's face, her pulse quickening with excitement. She stood up abruptly, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy and anticipation flood through her. She couldn't wait to meet this little girl, to welcome her into the world.

Sam and Tory both paused mid-fight, noticing her sudden shift in attention. Tory tilted her head. "What's going on? Why'd you stop?"

Arizona glanced up at them, her excitement barely contained. "I have to go," she said, almost breathlessly.

"Go?" Sam asked, her breathing heavy from the sparring match. "Where? What's going on?"

Arizona's eyes were already darting around, her mind already on the way out. "Miguel's mom just had the baby!" she explained quickly. "His little sister's here!"

Tory raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Wait, now? Right now?"

"Yeah!" Arizona said, her voice full of excitement. "Baby Lawrence-Diaz just made her debut! I can't miss this." She turned toward the door, eager to leave.

Sam's eyes widened. "Oh wow, that's huge. Go!"

Arizona nodded, practically bouncing on her feet. "I gotta get to the hospital!" She grabbed her bag from beside her on the bleacher and swung it over her shoulder.

Tory crossed her arms, grinning. "I guess that's a pretty good excuse to bail."

Arizona laughed, nodding as she walked toward the door. "Trust me, I'd love to stay and see if either of you can land a kick on each other, but a baby sister comes first!"

Tory chuckled, shaking her head. "You're crazy, but I get it. Go be the proud sister-in-law."

Arizona waved them both off, already halfway out the door. "Catch you later, guys!" she called back, her heart racing in anticipation. She was about to be an sister-in-law and nothing was going to stop her from seeing this new little life.

Arizona rushed through the hospital doors, the echo of her footsteps bouncing off the sterile, white walls. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of excitement and curiosity as she made her way to the room where she knew Miguel and his family were waiting. She had never seen him so excited, and the thought of meeting his little sister made her heart swell.

As she rounded the corner, she spotted Miguel sitting next to his mom, Carmen, on a small couch, cradling something in his arms. Arizona's breath hitched when she saw the tiny bundle wrapped in a soft pink blanket, and her gaze immediately locked on Miguel. His expression was soft, serene, a far cry from the confident fighter she was used to. He was staring down at the baby in his arms, his features glowing with pure joy.

Arizona stopped in her tracks, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God," she whispered. She could hardly believe it-Miguel, her friend, her sparring partner, the guy who had always been so full of fight, was now holding this tiny, fragile little human. She felt her heart tug with emotion, a rush of affection for both Miguel and this new addition to the Lawrence-Diaz family.

Miguel looked up from his sister, his face lighting up as soon as he saw Arizona. "Hey," he said, his voice softer than usual. "Come meet her."

Arizona's eyes filled with warmth as she slowly stepped forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's so small."

Carmen, who was sitting beside Miguel, smiled at Arizona's awe. "She's perfect, isn't she?"

Arizona nodded, completely taken by the sight. She gently knelt down beside Miguel, unable to tear her gaze away from the tiny face that was now staring up at her. She could hardly believe this moment was real-Miguel, her friend, her partner in crime, holding his little sister with such tenderness.

"Can I... can I hold her?" Arizona asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

Carmen chuckled, clearly moved by Arizona's affection. "Of course, sweetheart. Come here."

Miguel carefully handed the baby over to Arizona, her tiny body warm and delicate in her arms. Arizona marveled at how small and fragile she was, as if she could break apart at any moment. The baby's little hands grasped onto Arizona's fingers, and Arizona let out a breath of pure contentment. "She's so beautiful," Arizona whispered, gazing down at the baby's face.

Miguel leaned in with a proud grin. "Yeah, her name's Laura," he said, his voice full of warmth.

Arizona looked up at him in surprise, her eyes softening. "Laura?" she repeated, a smile tugging at her lips. "That's adorable." She turned her attention back to the baby, her fingers gently brushing the soft skin of her cheek. "You're so perfect, little Laura. So full of life and wonder." She paused, her voice growing more serene. "You're part of the universe now, little one. Full of infinite possibilities. The world's waiting for you."

Carmen and Miguel exchanged a look, both of them grinning. "You always have something zen to say, huh, Arizona?" Miguel teased, clearly entertained by Arizona's words.

Arizona shrugged, her smile playful. "I'm just speaking the truth." She continued gently rocking Laura in her arms, almost lost in the moment.

Carmen laughed, shaking her head. "Now, you two," she said, her eyes twinkling as she looked between Arizona and Miguel. "Don't get any ideas, alright? I don't want any grandchildren for at least another ten years."

Miguel and Arizona both burst out laughing, unable to contain themselves at the playful warning. Arizona smirked at Miguel, raising an eyebrow. "Ten years, huh?" she teased.

Miguel chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Maybe we should wait a little longer than that," he said, winking at Arizona.

Arizona nodded seriously, trying to hold back a grin. "Oh, of course. We wouldn't want to rush things."

They both turned their attention back to Johnny, who was sitting across from them, giving them an exaggerated look of confusion.

"Wait, what are you two talking about?" Johnny asked, looking between them. "No grandchildren, huh? What's that about?"

Arizona smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, we were just talking about how we might be planning to have a baby soon," she said, her tone deadpan.

Miguel caught on immediately and leaned in, matching her energy. "Yeah, we've been thinking about it, Johnny. We're ready to take on the responsibility."

Johnny's eyes widened in shock, his mouth dropping open. "You-wait, are you serious?" he stammered. "You can't just... you can't be serious."

Arizona and Miguel exchanged knowing glances, both of them barely holding it together. "We're completely serious," Arizona said, her voice full of feigned sincerity.

Miguel nodded solemnly. "We're ready, Johnny. It's a big step, but we're prepared for it."

Johnny's face was a mix of disbelief and confusion. "You... you better not be pranking me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm too old for this!"

At that, Arizona and Miguel couldn't hold their laughter any longer. "We're just messing with you, Johnny!" Arizona said, her laughter ringing through the room.

Miguel laughed too, shaking his head. "We're not planning on having a baby anytime soon, I promise."

Just as Johnny started to relax, Yaya-Miguel's grandmother-entered the room, overhearing their conversation. She placed her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes at the two of them.

"Ustedes dos," she began, her voice stern but filled with amusement. "Don't be playing these games. No están embarazados," she said in Spanish, shaking her head with a smile. "I know you two are not pregnant."

Arizona and Miguel froze for a second, both of them blushing from the prank they'd just pulled off. "Uh, no, Yaya. We're not," Miguel said, his voice sheepish now.

Yaya gave them both a knowing look and muttered something in Spanish under her breath, clearly amused by their antics. "Don't joke about such things, mijos. I've heard enough."

Arizona couldn't help but laugh, the tension melting away as Yaya's words hung in the air. She looked down at Laura in her arms, still smiling softly at the little girl. "Well," she said with a grin, "at least we know one thing for sure."

"What's that?" Carmen asked, clearly curious.

Arizona winked. "There's no shortage of love in this family."

Miguel and Carmen both smiled, and even Johnny let out a relieved laugh. Arizona, still cradling little Laura in her arms, couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy at the warmth of the moment, the playful banter, and the new life that had entered their world. It was a perfect mix of chaos and love-and Arizona wouldn't want it any other way.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

new gif...

im so sad that cobra kai is over.
and this book will be over in just a few chapters :(((

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