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𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 stood in the courtyard of the Reseda complex, arms folded as he waited. The faint hum of traffic buzzed in the distance, but his attention snapped to Johnny when he finally appeared—swaggering in with a six-pack of Coors, already drinking one as if it were water.

"Johnny, hey, don't you ever answer your—" Daniel started, but his words trailed off as his eyes locked on the bruises scattered across Johnny's face. His expression softened with alarm. "Oh God, what happened to you?"

"I bumped my head. What do you want?" Johnny muttered, brushing past him, his tone defensive.

Daniel followed a step closer. "I went to your dojo, and saw your old sensei. What the hell happened? I thought you said he was gone?"

"Look, I don't wanna get into it right now. I got a headache. I need some sleep." Johnny fished his keys from his pocket, moving toward his door with an impatient shake of his head.

But Daniel's next words stopped him cold. "I got a lead on Robby."

Johnny froze mid-step, slowly turning back toward him.

"I've been trying to find him on my own. But I thought maybe you'd like to help." Daniel's voice carried a mix of urgency and hesitation. "Look, I don't wanna be here any more than you. But I know we both want Robby to be safe. He's out there somewhere and he doesn't have anyone to help him. The whole reason these kids got into trouble was because of us. We can't let them suffer because of our issues."

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Stella sat quietly beside August's hospital bed, her hand resting on his brow as though her touch alone might shield him. His breathing was steady, but fragile, and in the hush of the room she began to sing softly—"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason..."

Her voice wavered, barely more than a whisper, carrying the words like a prayer. The song filled the sterile quiet with something human and aching, something that seemed to reach for him even as he drifted somewhere far away. Her tears slipped free before she even realized it, and she brushed them away quickly, as though she couldn't afford to fall apart here.

A warm, familiar hand settled gently on her shoulder. Stella turned, startled, then softened instantly at the sight of Janette.

"Hi grandma." Stella gave her a weary smile and leaned into her embrace, as though it were the only place she could rest.

"Hi sweetheart." Janette's voice was a whisper of calm, tender and steady. She smoothed a loose strand of hair from Stella's face, her own smile touched with concern. "You look exhausted. Did you work another double?"

"I can't bring myself to leave." Stella's voice cracked as she tried to hold her composure. She wiped at her cheeks again. "I have to look out for him."

"Stella, you've been looking out for him," Janette said softly, her words carrying both kindness and quiet warning. "But you can't keep working doubles. It's going to put you right in here along with your brother."

Stella's lip trembled. "I still feel so responsible for what happened. I never should have talked him into joining Cobra Kai."

Janette's eyes glistened, though her hand was steady as she cupped her granddaughter's cheek. Her voice grew firmer, though never lost its gentleness. "Stella Blue, you look at me. This wasn't your fault. It was no one's fault. Was it Robby's fault? No. It wasn't. Sometimes, we act out of anger, and I think those two boys were doing just that."

The dam broke. Stella nodded, collapsing into her grandmother's arms, her sobs muffled against Janette's shoulder. Janette simply held her, humming low and soothing like she had when Stella was a child, patient and still.

"Let Lori and Kara take you home," Janette murmured into her granddaughter's hair. "Get some rest, sweetheart. If there's any changes, I promise, I'll call you."

"Okay." Stella whispered, reluctant but spent. She picked up her purse, casting one last look at August before slipping out the door.

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After visiting Shannon in rehab, Daniel drove to a juvenile detention center to find Trey and Cruz, the two guys that Robby used to hang around with.

"Worse than rehab, nicer than jail." Johnny said as he looked around, observing the place. His voice was dry, but underneath it was the tension of a man barely holding it together, his thoughts drifting to Stella and how she'd look at him if she knew he was here.

"Just let me do the talking, all right?" Daniel said.

"We're not selling bimmers to soccer moms. This is my world, follow my lead." Johnny said.

The guard brought out Trey and Cruz, and roughly sat them down at the table.

"Bitch-ass Kevin James punk." Cruz muttered.

Johnny snapped his fingers at the two boys, irritation flashing in his eyes. But beneath the bluster, his gut twisted—because Stella's brother could've ended up sitting at a table like this. "Hey, morons!"

"Hey, what?" Cruz said.

"We're looking for Robby." Daniel said.

Trey and Cruz sent each other an amused look, then looked back at the two men. "If y'all two are the search party, I'd say he's pretty screwed."

"Start talking or you'll be drinking your toilet wine through a straw." Johnny warned.

"Oooh, Robby's daddy talking a big game, ain't he?" Trey said. "Now, does it look like we're scared of you?"

"You should be." Johnny said.

"I don't think so, man. Look at your face, looks like you already got your ass beat." Cruz said.

"Enough!" Daniel said, slamming his hands on the table. Trey and Cruz flinched. "Cut the crap and tell us everything you know about Robby."

"Okay, alright. Damn, man, relax. We didn't mean no disrespect." Trey said.

"Sorry, Mr. LaRusso." Cruz said quietly.

"What the hell? You listen to him and not me?" Johnny asked, offended.

"He knows how to kick ass." Trey said, as Daniel chuckled.

"And he ain't no punk-ass bitch." Cruz added.

Johnny, fed up, reached across the table and slapped Cruz.

"Johnny, what the hell?" Daniel said.

"He just hit me!" Cruz said, looking to the guard, who only shrugged.

"You don't see that?" Trey asked.

After Trey turned around, Johnny slapped him too.

"Enough!" Daniel scolded.

"Better start talking. I can do this all day." Johnny said.

"No. Hey, hey, hey. It's not necessary." Trey said quickly, throwing his hands up. "We all used to scam people at Tech Town in Panorama City. He knows how to get by around there, alright?"

"You better be telling the truth." Daniel said. "Or else, I'm sending him back alone next time."

"You might wanna get your friend here a tampon." Johnny said, standing up with Daniel.

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"Can you be careful with those?" Daniel asked Johnny, who was tossing corn nuts into his mouth.

Johnny leaned over, crunching one in Daniel's ear with deliberate mischief. Daniel grimaced, shaking his head.

"Thanks. You know, we need to talk about what we're gonna do when we find Robby." Daniel said.

"He's my son." Johnny said. "I'll talk to him."

"That's always gone well." Daniel muttered.

"What did you say?" Johnny asked, sharp.

"Nothing." Daniel sighed.

Before Johnny could snap back, Daniel's phone began to ring through the car speakers.

"Your car's ringing." Johnny said, looking around, confused.

"Hey honey." Daniel said, answering Amanda's call.

"Hey. Where are you?" Amanda asked

"I'm in the car. Johnny Lawrence is with me." Daniel said.

"Oh, hi Johnny!" Amanda said warmly

"Oh hey Amanda!" Johnny leaned closer to the speaker, almost grinning.

"Alright, you know what, lean back, you just talk normally." Daniel said, annoyed. "We got a new lead on Robby."

"A lead? What are you, Tango and Cash?" Amanda teased

"No, Tango and Cash were narcotics detectives. This is a totally different thing." Johnny said.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake." Amanda replied sarcastically

"We're on the trail now, we just need to check out this info." Daniel said.

"Yeah, scumbags at the prison gave it up easy." Johnny said. "A couple of pussies."

"What the hell? Did you just say prison?" Amanda asked, alarmed

"We were just talking to a couple of guys who knew Robby." Daniel clarified.

"Yeah, they wouldn't talk so we had to smack them around a little bit." Johnny said.

"You did what?!" Amanda asked frantically

"I didn't smack anyone around, honey. It was more of a good cop-bad cop situation." Daniel said.

"Actually, it's more of a no cop situation. You do realize neither of you are cops right?" Amanda asked

"Yeah, but we got the information we needed." Daniel said.

"Guy coughed it up like a chicken bone. He cried." Johnny chuckled.

"Ok, I'm gonna go on the record and say I'm against this entire operation." Amanda said

"We just need to find him before the police do. I don't want this kid's life to get destroyed if I can help it." Daniel said.

"I know Daniel. Just be careful." Amanda said

"I will." Daniel ended the call, shaking his head at Johnny. "You had to mention the prison, right? Of course you did."

"I'm not lying to your wife for you." Johnny said as he threw a corn nut as it hit the ceiling and it came back down, and he began to look for it.

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"Cashier hasn't seen him." Daniel said, handing Johnny food. "Here, I got you what you wanted. Tech Town's just down the block. We should ask there."

"Yeah, maybe we can get them to give us the security cam footage." Johnny said.

"I can't believe you eat that crap." Daniel said.

"What? You too good for gas station food?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah, I am." Daniel replied.

"Yeah." Johnny said, smirking.

Daniel's phone buzzed again. He pulled it out, glancing down. Relief spread over his face. "Oh, thank God."

"What? Is it Robby?" Johnny asked, instantly alert.

"No. August." Daniel said, showing him Amanda's message: Good news! August is out of the coma!! Please tell Johnny. "Amanda says he woke up."

"That's great." Johnny said. His chest tightened, relief and longing twisting together.

"Some good news for once, huh?" Daniel said.

"Yeah. It's really good." Johnny said. He swallowed hard, masking the ache. Why didn't Stella call me? She hates me. I know she does. The thought dug into him like glass. He loved her more than he knew how to say—loved her in ways that scared him—but he couldn't shake the fear she'd never believe it.

After Johnny put the gas pump back, Daniel turned his head to see a 1993 Dodge Caravan.

"Hey, wait a second, isn't that a—"

"It's a Dodge Caravan." Johnny cut him off, tossing his food away and running for the driver's seat.

"What do you think you're doing?" Daniel demanded.

"I'm driving." Johnny said.

"Like hell you are." Daniel snapped.

"Fine, I'll go without you." Johnny said, already behind the wheel.

Daniel huffed but climbed in, strapping his seatbelt as Johnny revved the engine.

"Don't worry, I'm a good driver." Johnny said with a cocky grin. But under the bravado, all he could think about was Stella—her voice, her eyes, her brother finally awake. He'd do anything to get back to her. Anything.

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Stella woke to the sharp ring of her doorbell. Groggy, she pushed herself upright, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before padding barefoot across the apartment.

When she opened it, her father stood there. Nathan filled the doorway with his steady, weather-worn frame, boots planted like he'd been waiting a long time. His hazel eyes softened when they landed on her—eyes that always seemed to notice everything she tried to hide.

"Hey daddy."

"Hey hon. I didn't mean to wake you up." Nathan's voice was soft, carrying that protective warmth that never failed to anchor her.

"No, it's okay." Stella stepped back, motioning him in. "Please come in."

Nathan moved into the apartment, his boots a quiet weight against the floor. His gaze moving over the space. The unopened mail stacked by the counter. An empty coffee cup beside the couch. The way her jacket was tossed over a chair instead of hung up. He didn't say anything, but he noticed it all—the signs of how much she was running herself ragged, his gaze falling back to her, lingering on the shadows under her eyes, the slump of her shoulders.

"Your grandma said you're not sleeping well."

Stella hesitated, then sighed. "It's just everything that's happened, plus I've been working doubles to make sure—"

"Stella," Nathan cut in gently but firmly, the way only a father who loved her fiercely could. "Your grandmother was right. We can't have you in there too." His tone softened, but the weight of his words lingered. "Promise me, you'll worry less, and sleep more. I know it's hard, but just promise me you'll do it."

"I promise, Daddy." Stella whispered, her composure breaking as she leaned into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. His embrace was solid, safe, the kind of hug that reminded her she wasn't carrying all of this alone.

"Do you still have that box I left here?" Nathan asked gently after a moment, his voice rumbling against her hair.

"You mean this one?" Stella pulled away to grab the small box from the end table and handed it to him.

Nathan's expression softened as his calloused hands cradled it. He set it between them on the couch and opened it, his eyes tracing every memento inside—photos worn at the corners, folded love letters, little fragments of a life shared. His hand stilled when it touched a small blue velvet box. He opened it slowly, revealing the replica of Princess Diana's ring. The same promise ring he had once slipped onto Ava's hand.

"Your mother would want you to have this." His voice thickened as he brushed away a tear.

Stella smiled through her own tears and slipped the ring onto her middle finger. She picked up one of the love letters, noticing every I love you carefully underlined in red.

"These letters are beautiful." She handed them back, her voice trembling.

Nathan's roughened hands handled them with care as he set them back into the box. He then pulled out the old cassettes—the mixtapes he and Ava had traded back and forth, her classic rock battling his old-school country. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he slid them carefully back in and closed the lid. He placed the box in Stella's hands.

"I want you to have it, Blue." Nathan said, his thumb brushing her cheek, wiping a tear away like he had when she was little.

"Daddy, are you sure?" Stella asked, her voice fragile.

"Of course I'm sure." Nathan's tone carried no hesitation.

"You know, just reading the letters, I can see why you fell in love with Mom." Stella said softly.

Nathan's gaze lingered on a photo of Ava, his features gentling, his rugged exterior breaking open with memory. "She didn't seem real to me at first. I thought I would go blind from how bright her smile was. Even back then, she was the type of woman who had no defenses, no pretenses. She was a euphoric, radiant soul, who was just the kindest human being I had ever met, with extreme patience. She enjoyed being a wife, and she loved being a mother to you and your brother. There was just something about her. I would give anything to hear her laugh, to see her smile, just one last time."

Stella's tears fell freely as she whispered, "She was one in a million. She inspired everyone who crossed her path."

"She truly was." Nathan's voice dropped low, thick with emotion. "I loved her with all of my heart and soul, and I always will."