I DO NOT OWN COBRA KAI OR THE KARATE KID

After a long day of training in the wilderness, Ellie got off the tree and went looking for Mr. Larusso. She eventually found him trying to balance on his right hand.

"Mr. LaRusso?" Ellie asked a he lost his balance and fell on his ass.

"I almost did it." He remarked. "Almost."

"What were you doing?"

"One of the last things Mr. Miyagi ever taught me: the most powerful kick in Miyagi-do karate."

"How do you do it?" Ellie inquired.

"I wish I could show you, only Mr. Miyagi could do it." Daniel explained. "You have to balance your whole body on one hand which frees up two legs for the kick. I almost did it once when I was in my 20s, so the fact that I got this close today, pretty damn awesome."

"Yeah it is."

"How'd you do on the tree?"

"I did all the moves without falling."

"Good. Now that you've mastered that, you're ready for the next challenge."

"What's that?" She asked.

"Finding the car." He said. "This place is like a maze."

By the time Ellie and Daniel returned to the Larusso home, the sun was setting in the sky. As they walked inside, they could hear two women bickering.

"Ah, look who's here! Come on in." Mrs. Larusso said as the sensei and student made their way inside.

"Hey!" An older women exclaimed. "Amanda and I are making dinner."

"Yeah, your mom made her famous chicken cacciatore."

"Yes, but with the help of your beautiful wife.

"Oh, stop."

"You owe me big time."

"How did you do it?" Daniel asked in amazement. "Hey! You know what? I don't even care. I'm hungry." He then turned to Ellie. "Hey, you hungry? You want to stay for dinner?" Ellie did want to stay very much, but she knew that her old man would tan her hide if she was out too late. However, she decided that it was worth it.

" Uh, sure. Yeah. Thanks." She said as Mr. Larusso led her into the kitchen.

"Hey, Ma, where's Louie?" He asked.

"Uh, he said he couldn't make it tonight." Daniel's mom replied.

"Keeps getting better." He remarked. As the family sat down for dinner, everyone wanted to hear about her training.

"You had to have fallen off more than once." Sam insisted.

"I slipped once, but, you know, I caught myself and climbed back up." Ellie clarified. "So that doesn't count."

"No, that totally counts as falling." Sam argued as they laughed.

"Sensei, you got to tell them about the handstand." Ellie insisted.

"No, you didn't." Amanda said.

"Oh, I almost did it this time." Daniel explained. "I got this close!"

"Uh-huh."

"It was incredible." Ellie remarked.

"How much did he pay you to stay that?" Mrs. Larusso asked.

"Don't start with that." Daniel chuckled as everyone ate and laughed. Ellie felt amazing as she ate at the Larusso table. There was good food, there was family, there was love. Everything that the Wheeler family did not have. For the first time in her lief, Ellie felt like she belonged. The only question was: How long would it last?

NEXT TIME, ELLIE FACES HER FIRST AND MOST DANGEROUS OPPONENT: HER FATHER. HAS SHE LEARNED ENOUGH TO KEEP HER ALIVE? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.