The next day, a Friday, Montana sat on the beach listening to a George Jones cassette tape on the walkman as He Stopped Loving Her Today played, a tune which reminded her of her grandfather, Nathan, as he introduced her to George Jones, and was one of the many reasons she loved him, and her big brother Robby always sang Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes to her when it would be his turn to put her bed.

Yes, Montana knew they called him No-show Jones, due to the fact he was drunk most of his shows, and some rumors even indicated it was because he was double booked, but that didn't stop the Walker family from loving the man.

Perhaps it was because he possessed the remarkable voice that conveyed both aching vulnerability, or because he was one the most respected artists in the country music genre through deeply emotive ballads like He Stopped Loving Her Today, and The Grand Tour, - both heart-wrenching tales of love and loss. Whatever it was, he was deeply loved and respected by the Walker family.

Kept some letters by his bed, dated 1962, he had underlined in red, every single I love you.

Dog gone it! There goes the water works. That verse gets her everytime. She couldn't help it. It was such a beautiful, yet, heart-wrenching verse, and such a powerful song, so naturally, she shared it with everyone she knew, whether liked country music or not. In her humble opinion - you didn't need to be a fan of country music to like Mr. George Jones.

As Montana watched the waves and listened to the song, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking up, she was met with the blue eyes of Johnny. Turning off the walkman, she placed her headphones over her neck, and smiled warmly. "Hi." she greeted

Johnny also smiled warmly as he greeted her. "Hi. I didn't mean to startle you."

Montana shook her head and smiled warmly, then patted the spot next to her. "No, you didn't. Please, sit down."

Johnny smiled as he took a spot next to the blonde, and studied her, especially the significant similarities she had to his mother, Laura. There was a brief moment of silence before he spoke. "I still can't shake this feeling we've met before. I know I know you from somewhere."

Montana clasped on to the pendant and couldn't stop her eyes from becoming misty. She missed the real Johnny Lawrence, the one she knew. She wanted to tell him who she was so bad, but she had to remember what Mr. Miyagi said. "Well, it's like I said, we probably knew each other in another life. Life's funny that way." she said. "Anyway, I heard about the tournament. Are you ready for it?"

Johnny sighed then spoke. "Sensei's been pushing us extra hard, but he always does around the time tournament. You see, I won last year, and he's expecting me to win again this year."

"Is karate something you really enjoy?" Montana asked

Johnny sighed then turned to face her. "Yes. I never told anyone this, not even Ali, but I used to be a loser with no friends, until I joined Cobra Kai. My stepfather, Sid, he's verbally abusive, and calls me a shithead and a lost cause. Karate is my escape from it all."

Montana knew her grandmother Laura married Sid to give herself and Johnny a better life, but she didn't realize just how bad the abuse was. "Johnny, I'm so sorry. No one should have to endure what you've been through. You're not a shithead, nor are you a lost cause."

"Thanks." Johnny said. "So, what were you listening to? Anything good?"

Montana smiled warmly as she hit rewind on the walkman and rewound the George Jones cassette tape. "Only the best country singer in the world. Mr. George Jones. My father loved him as my mother introduced him to his music." she smiled as she gave him the walkman

Johnny placed the headphones over his head and hit play, as He Stopped Loving Her Today began to play. Even though he wasn't a fan of country music, he couldn't deny he enjoyed George Jones's music.

Montana saw goosebumps on Johnny's arms, which could only mean one thing, the spoken verse. It gave her goosebumps every time as well.

You know, she came to see him one last time. We all wondered if she would. It kept running through my mind, this time, he's over her for good.

After the song was over, Johnny took off the headphones and gave them back to the blonde. "Wow, that was intense." he said. "I can see why your dad loved him so much."

Montana smiled as she placed the walkman in her bag and stood up. "Yeah, I love him myself, as he truly sings from the heart, especially those deeply emotive ballads. Anyway, I've got to get going. I enjoyed visiting with you Johnny."

Johnny smiled as he brought the blonde in for an embrace and Montana honestly thought she was going to fall apart. "I did too. Thank you for listening."

Montana smiled warmly in her embrace. "Of course. I'm always here when you need me, Johnny."

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

It was 8:45 pm when Montana arrived at the Mills' Encino Hills residence. She was tired of keeping the secret from Ali of who she was. Whether it would blow up in her face, she didn't know, but she wanted to be honest with the blonde, as she had always been so kind and welcoming to her. Walking up the steps, she stepped on to the front porch and rang the doorbell, when a middle aged couple, whom she assumed were Ali's parents, answered the door. "Hello, can I help you?" Mrs. Mills asked

Montana smiled warmly, and replied, "Hi, I'm Montana Lockhart, I'm a friend of Ali's, is she home?"

"Oh yes she is. Please come in." Mrs. Mills said

"Thank you." Montana smiled

"Ali, Montana's here!" Mr. Mills said.

Ali smiled as she came down the stairs, and embraced the taller blonde. "Hi Montana! What are you doing here?"

Montana smiled warmly as she returned the shorter blonde's embrace. "I was wondering if I could talk to you? It's something that can't wait until tomorrow, and it's not really something to talk about over the phone."

Ali smiled as she pulled away from the embrace. "Of course." she said, then turned to her parents. "Is it alright if she spends the night?"

"As long as it's alright with her mother dear." Mrs. Mills said

Roni was working the nightshift, and didn't really care about Montana's whereabouts, which is something that Montana missed. Stella and Johnny wanted to know where Montana was at all times, which she found annoying, but now that she has this person who doesn't care, she misses that. "My mom is working the nightshift at the hospital tonight. I can call the hospital and have them relay a message."

"Alright, well you girls don't stay up too late and have fun." Mrs. Mills smiled

"Goodnight mom, goodnight dad." Ali smiled as she and Montana walked up to Ali's bedroom.

"Wow, your room is a gorgeous shade of pink." Montana said as she and Ali walked in and Ali closed the door behind her

"Thank you. Make yourself comfortable." Ali smiled as she turned up the radio and Montana smiled as she set her crossbody bag on the couch in Ali's room and took a seat. "What would you like to talk about?"

Montana messed with the pompom on her crossbody bag, and sighed deeply before turning to the blonde next to her. "Ali, you've been so warm and welcoming to me. I can't lie to you anymore. I'm going to tell you something and you have to promise you won't tell anyone else. Not Daniel, not Johnny, or the girls, this stays between us, all right?"

"I promise. What is it?" Ali asked

Montana took a deep breath, and clasped onto the pendant, then spoke. "I'm from the future. My name is Montana Blue Lawrence. I'm from the year 2042. Johnny Lawrence is my father. I'm a registered nurse, and I'm also a medical student. I was in my pharmacology class when my professor told me he passed away. My father was my favorite person in the world. My mother gave me a box of my father's old memorabilia and among it, was his walkman." she said, then her eyes became misty. "I know you probably won't believe me, but it's the truth."

Ali remained silent for a moment as she took in the information. "How did you get here?" she asked

Montana wiped her tears and pulled out her father's walkman. "One minute I was sitting in my childhood bedroom listening to music on my father's walkman, the next, I woke up in Reseda. I've been playing around with thousands of reasons in my head as to why I was sent here, but I could never think of why... but then after visiting with my dad on the beach today, it all came so clear."

"What?" Ali asked as she took the blonde's hand in her own, as a gesture of comfort

"I never had the chance to tell my father goodbye before he passed away, so I guess that's why I was sent here... to tell him goodbye." Montana said. "But I can't do that, if everytime I see him, I want to fall apart. I know the Johnny Lawrence you know is despicable, but the Johnny Lawrence I know, is kind, and generous. Maybe it's because he became a father. Please, I know this is a lot, but I need you to believe me."

"Montana, I don't know what it is, but I believe you, and I'm going to help you in anyway I can." Ali said.

Montana smiled as she and Ali shared an embrace, and she couldn't help the tears that were flowing. It felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "I feel like I need to tell him. Johnny." Montana said as she pulled away from the embrace.

"We'll figure it out." Ali said.

For the first time in a long time, Montana slept peacefully that night. Perhaps it was because she was honest with Ali, although, she wasn't sure of what would come of telling her the truth, but she had to tell someone other than Mr. Miyagi, and Ali was her best friend in this timeline. Ali was one of the most influential people in the Walker family as she inspired Ava to go into pediatric nursing, so in a way, Montana owes it to the girl. Ali herself was going to make sure she got back home.

Author's Note

Hi!

I realized Montana and Johnny didn't have much interaction, so I decided to give them a chapter of their own. Also I wasn't going to have Montana tell Ali who she was until later chapters, but I didn't want it to drag on. I'm not going to involve the tournament I as I have other plans for the story.

- Katie.