Over the next two months Nicole's karate had improved greatly. Kate had to her surprise left her alone. School started in a few weeks. Nicole was still nervous about it but was happy Robby would be with her. Miyagi-Do had gotten some new students. It was early in the morning. When Daniel pulled into Mr. Miyagi's driveway he saw Nicole's car. He went into the backyard. Nicole was doing kata.

"Starting early today huh?" Daniel said.

"Morning Mr. LaRusso." She said not stopping what she was doing.

"Morning." "Starting early today?"

"I can't make class today." "I have to work, so I figured I'd get in some kata."

"I guess we'll all have to listen to Robby talk about you all day." He said jokingly.

She laughed. "I guess so."

"Robby tells me you have a birthday coming up."

"Yes I do."

"How old are you turning?"

"Seventeen." An alarm on her phone went off indicating it was time for her to go. "Gotta go."

"Coming back for dinner?"

"No I'm closing tonight." "Bye."

"Bye."

The next evening Nicole and Robby decided to go out to dinner. As they were leaving the restaurant Nicole got a call from Sam asking if she wanted to spend the night. Nicole said yes. She had to go to her house to get some clothes to sleep in. The sun was just starting to set. Nicole and Robby were walking up to the house.

"Those are pretty roses." Robby said noticing the rose trellis that led up to a second story window.

"Yeah." "I love opening my window after a rain storm." "All I can smell is roses."

"They lead to your room?"

"Yeah."

They got to the front steps. "I'll wait out here."

"Ok." "I'll just be a second." She went inside. Robby sat down on the stairs

Not even a minute later a car pulled into the driveway. Tammy and Brad got out. Robby stood up as they came to the front steps. "Hi Mrs. Strafford."

"My name is Mrs. Warrener." She said rudely. "Who are you?"

"I'm Robby."

"Oh right, Nicole's boyfriend." She said sounding uninterested.

Nicole came out. "I'm spending the night at Sam's." Nicole said looking at Tammy.

"Whatever."

"Let's go Robby." They left.

Two days later was Nicole's seventeenth birthday. That morning she went downstairs to make herself some breakfast.

"Morning mom." She said.

"Morning." Tammy never acknowledged Nicole's birthday.

It five o' clock that day Nicole walked into the LaRusso house.

"Hello?" She said.

"We're in the kitchen." Robby said. She went into the kitchen. Robby, Sam, Amanda and Daniel were standing there. A cake with seventeen lit candles was on the counter.

"Surprise." They all said.

"Wow." Nicole said shocked. "Thank you all very much." She walked up to the cake and blew out the candles.

After everyone had a piece Nicole and Robby went to his room in the dojo.

"I bought you a present." Robby said.

"You didn't have to do that." He took a little box out from behind the pillow and handed to her. She opened it. It was a gold ring with a diamond shaped like a heart. "Robby, it's beautiful." "I love it." They kissed. Her heart was pounding at nervousness she was feeling at the next thing she was going to say. "Robby, I-

Sam came in interrupting them. "We have to go if we're gonna make the movie." Sam said.

Nicole, Robby and Sam were coming back from the movies.

"We have one more surprise for you Nicole." Sam said.

As they pulled into Miyagi-Do Robby covered Nicole's eyes. He guided her out of the car. They took a few steps.

"Ok open." Robby said.

A light blue Lexus was in front of them with a red bow on it. Daniel and Amanda were standing there.

"Like it?" Daniel asked.

"Mr. LaRusso, you can't give me a car."

"Sure I can."

She smiled and hugged him and Amanda. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."