"So I could beat people up with permission." Hailey answered with her usual vicious smile. 
"Cause all of you guys were doing it." Said Grayson. When they awed, he waved his hand. "Aww, stop."
Odessa chuckled. Eli cracked a smile. "See? We all have different reasons for why we joined karate but we all had the same goal. We wanted to get better. We wanted to put an end to all the bullying. Silver is a bully and Daniel's the victim. We need to help him."  
When he was done, they all went silent. Oliver hummed and Demetri smiled widely. "Go, Eli." 
Grayson lowered his sunglasses and sniffled. "Wow,  that almost brought a tear to my eye." He said and pretended to wipe his eyes. 
"I thought that was great." Said Odessa and she looked at him over her shoulder. "I'm proud of how far you've come.
Eli smiled at her, softly, and full of love. 
"Now, if we're going to help Daniel, we need help from everybody. So, start spreading the word."



















Awkward silence. That's all there was. It was in the car ride to the bar and it was there in the bar. Johnny sat across from Christian with his glass of beer clutched tightly in his hand. Christian sipped from his simple glass of water. "You sure you don't want one?" Johnny offered and held up his glass. 
Christian cracked a smile and waved his hand. "No.  No, uh—" he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a bronze chip. He laid it on the table.  "I've been sober for over a year. I mean, I can have one, but, I just find it better not to." He explained. 
"Wow.  Uh. . ." Said Johnny. "That's, uh — that great, Christian. Congrats."
"Thanks." Christian said back and put the chip back into his pocket. "So, uh, what's up?"
"What do you mean?"
He laughed slightly. "Well, we had that awkward encounter at Thalia's. You yelled a little bit. Then you show up at my house and ask me to go out for a drink even though we haven't spoke in years. Which I know is my fault but. . . What's going on, John?"
Johnny flinched. He hadn't heard that nickname since the last time they talked. "Uh. . ." He didn't know what to say. "This is awkward."
Christian nodded again with a laugh. "Just a little."
"I just. . . Thalia thought it was a good idea for us to go out." Said Johnny and he took another awkward pause. He took a large swig of beer, desperately needing it. Along with another. 
"Oh. Thalia thought it was a good idea?" He questioned, emphasizing her name. 
"Well, uh — I thought it was a good idea, too. I. . ."  Johnny groaned and rubbed his face. "Dammit, why is this so hard? It was never this hard."
"Because we were best friends," Christian spoke with a sad grin. "Now things are different."
"They didn't have to be different. You didn't have to disappear like that. You could've come to me."
He shook his head. "I was in a really bad place,  Johnny. The lowest point in my life. I felt like I had nobody,"
"But you had—"
"I know I had you." Christian interrupted. "I had you, my wife, and my daughter but when I tell you I felt alone, I felt so alone." He sucked in a deep breath. "Believe me, there wasn't a day that went by where I wasn't thinking of any of you. I'm so sorry I did that to you Johnny but I'm here now. I want to make things right, especially with Odessa."
It was hard for Johnny to sit there and listen to it when he spent so much time being angry at Christian for leaving. His best friend for so many years just vanished. At the worst time in Johnny's life, he wished that he had his brother to be there with him. He, too,  felt like he had nobody. Of course he understood. But now Thalia was back in his life and Odessa meant a great deal to him. He was protective over them both. He understood just how much more difficult it was for them and it only made him more angry.  
But he was also a father. They shared that in common.  Johnny spent so much time trying to get Robby to forgive him for his abandonment and now they their relationship was healing. That's all Christian was trying to with Odessa. "She loves you, Chris. She misses you. So does Thalia." 
Christian scoffed slightly to himself. "I don't think she does."
"You haven't been here to see her cry over you. You hadn't seen her struggle because you weren't here. She misses her father, Christian. She'll forgive you." Johnny proclaimed. 
His eyes began to water.
"And Tal. . . I never thought I would ever see her again, to be honest. She kind of just showed up one day. But even then, I could tell how much she missed you. She's always going to love you. I mean, she's a wreck." Jonny continued. "Thalia's my best friend, Chris. And I love Odessa. But I can never replace you. I'm not gonna try try,  either. She needs her father. You just need to be there for them. So don't disappear again cause it'll ruin them both." 
Christian sniffled and wiped his eyes. "Jesus," he muttered and sipped the water from his glass cup. "I'm sorry about us, John."
Johnny shook his head. "Don't—"
"No. Really, I am. I feel guilty every single day. You were my best friend. You got me into karate. You let me stay at your home even though I knew how much of struggle it was for you. You were my brother and I just threw it all away. I'm so sorry."
For so many years, Johnny was waiting for this conversation. He wanted to hide away and pretend that he was over it up deep inside he missed his best friend. He needed the brotherhood back. "It's okay, Chris. We're okay."
Christian's smile wavered. "And I'm happy they've had you. I'm really glad Thalia's had the support. And Dess, thank you for being there for her. I always knew you two would find each other someday."
Like fate, Johnny and Odess were meant to find each other in that dojo. They were meant to be there for one another, for him to care so much for her and for Odessa to make him into a better person. She was Christian through and through. "She's a really great kid. I love her to death." He admitted. "Which is weird to say. I hate the L word."
Christian chuckled. "I know."
Johnny swirled the half full glass in his hand. He stared at the swishing liquid. "So, uh. . ." He started to say. "I lied."
Christian titled his head. "Huh?" 
"I did bring you here for a reason. It's about Daniel."
"Daniel Larusso?" He repeated the name. He smiled slightly. "Haven't heard that name in a long time. How is he?"
"Not good right now. He needs held, Chris. And I think you know exactly how to do that."