A strange feeling filled Sky's chest when she descended the stairs and realized it wasn't Miggy at the door, but Cody. Her steps grew slower, her hand gripped the railing as she heard how Dad and Cody conversed with low voices. She couldn't make out what they were saying - just a word here and there - and then Cody looked up and saw her. He fell silent mid-sentence.

Suddenly Sky was reminded of the day they had gone to have milkshakes, almost exactly two months ago. Cody had stood right there, at the door, and she had walked down these stairs, and at the sight of her, his eyes had grown soft, wide, as if he was looking at the moon.

That was the way he was looking at her now too, and it went straight to Sky's heart like a knife into butter. And just like that day, he was so beautiful it took her breath away.

"Hi," Cody said, and his throat bobbed as he cleared his throat. "Can we talk?"

"Sure," Sky replied, glancing at Dad who was still standing by the door too. "If that's okay, Dad?"

Dad gave a nod and stepped aside. "The kid has something to tell you. Be nice."

Sky felt her cheeks heating, and she lowered her gaze to the floor, waited until Dad had walked away, to the kitchen. He closed the door as he went, to give them some privacy, of which Sky was grateful.

When they were alone, Sky turned her eyes back to Cody. He stood in front of her in his jeans and a hoodie, the evening air ruffling his dark hair and pushing strands of it to his forehead. His cheeks were red, but otherwise, he was pale, the shadows under his eyes had grown even darker. The contrast between his serious, haunted face and the bright, cheerful Christmas lights Dad had put up a couple of days ago, was striking.

"Is— Is everything okay?" she asked, as a sudden worry crossed her heart.

"Yes," he let out a nervous laugh. "No. I– I have to tell you something."

Sky's heart turned painfully in her chest. She leaned a hand on the doorway and swallowed, but the air felt thin, she couldn't breathe. It didn't help that she had known they'd have to have this conversation sooner or later - now that it was time, Sky felt like the wind was blowing right through her.

"Okay," she said. "Then tell me."

For a heartbeat or so, he hesitated. The breath he took was shaky, he twisted his hands - but when he looked up and met her eyes, there was no hesitation in his gaze, and Sky knew, even before he said the words, she knew what he was about to say.

"I—" he swallowed hard. "I am in love with you."

Sky couldn't help the gasp that left her lips. "Oh, Cody—"

"Please let me finish—" he said, a tremor in his voice. "I– I have been, for some time now. And… I know you don't feel the same for me. But I— I just had to ask if—"

He looked like he was falling in pieces, like every word was a struggle. It wasn't just his voice that was trembling, his hands were shaking too, and his chest was rising with fast, uneven breaths. Sky had never seen him like this, like he was falling apart at the seams.

"To ask me what?" her eyes searched his face.

"If you— would go out with me?"

Her chest felt hollow, like it was collapsing on itself.

"Cody, I— I don't—"

"It's okay, I know. I know you're not over Hawk, I know you're not in love with me—" The words were falling rapidly off his lips, he sounded out of breath, strained, anxious. "I'm not a fool. I'm not asking you to love me now. I'm asking if there is a chance - however small - that you could someday feel that way about me. If there's any hope. Sky— just, please, give me a chance. I– I love you."

She looked at him as if she saw him for the first time. Her chest was being crushed under emotions she couldn't name.

He loves me.

Of course, she had guessed he had feelings for her, had suspected it might even be love, but still - it was different to hear him say it. To hear the tremor of his voice, the sheer desperation in it. He loved her. It was written all over his face now that he stood there in front of her, his eyes wide as saucers and full of need, hope, and fear.

Sky felt like her heart could stop at any beat, so badly it was aching.

Could I love him?

If not him, then surely no one.

The painful longing she still felt for Hawk, was pointless, it would lead to nothing. He was in the past, he would never quit Cobra Kai, he would never again be the kind, sweet boy he had once been. It was all gone, gone forever, and no matter how much Sky wished she could be with him again, she knew it would never happen.

And here was Cody. He was everything she could ask for. He was handsome, he was kind, he was smart, and funny and they had so much in common. They could talk about books for hours. They knew each other's darkest secrets - she knew the color of his blood, the taste of his tears, he knew how shattered her heart was, how broken her soul. She knew he would always treat her right, with kindness and respect. He would be a wonderful boyfriend - and she could make him happy too, she knew she could, even if she didn't love him like he loved her. And the sex - well it was great, better than great, it was beautiful.

He loved her. It was a gift, it was a miracle, it made something flutter in Sky's aching heart. She had thought she was so horribly ruined and flawed that no one could ever love her. She had done nothing to deserve Cody's love, and yet he was here, offering it to her as if she was worthy of it. It was like offering water to someone who was dying of thirst. How could she turn her back to something like that?

I can't lose him. I can't. I've lost too many people already.

"Okay," she said. "I'll go out with you."

He gasped as if he couldn't believe what she had said, and then there were tears. He laughed and the tears fell to his cheeks, and she realized they were of relief, of hope, and a small voice in the back of her mind said you shouldn't give him hope, what you are doing is selfish, he deserves better but she refused to listen to that voice, pushed it away with all her might, because Cody was laughing and his happiness was like sunlight, it burned away even the darkest shadows.

"Oh my God," Cody's voice got caught in his throat. He didn't wipe away his tears, they shimmered in his eyes like diamonds when he ran a trembling hand through his hair. "Really? You'll go out with me?"

Sky couldn't help a smile, it tugged at the corner of her mouth and silenced the voices of doubt in her mind. She reached a hand and took his warm, slightly shaking fingers in hers.

"Yeah. Let's go on a date."

His grin lit up the whole fucking world. "Today? I'm free right now. You— you want to go to the bookstore? I'll buy you anything you wish! And then to have milkshakes—?"

"I can't," Sky said, and Cody's face fell with sudden fear. "Miguel invited me to this thing - a Christmas party or something, I'm not sure, but anyways, he's gonna be here any minute."

"You don't want me to be your plus one?"

"Seriously? You want our first date to be hanging out and drinking beer with the Eagle Fangs?"

He laughed again, joy and relief making his face glow. The blinking Christmas lights cast moving shadows on his face, under his high cheekbones and he looked like an angel, his lips were full, his features were soft and so beautiful it was impossible to look away.

"That's a good point. So, are you free tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is good."

"Okay," Cody replied softly. "Tomorrow. I— I can't wait."

There was a short moment of silence as he just looked at her, and his eyes were wide and full of love and wonder. His fingers rested on her hands, their touch was gentle and light, but burning, as if he was running a fever.

"Can I—" his breath hitched in his throat. "Can I kiss you?"

Suddenly Sky felt shy, almost fearful. Stupid, so fucking stupid - they had kissed a million times! But there was something new, something vulnerable at this moment, something so fragile Sky feared the whole world could break like glass and the shards would slice her soul open.

She nodded, scared that her voice would fail her - and Cody's eyes melted, the hazel color turned darker, softer. With a feather-light touch, he tilted up her chin, and then his lips were on hers.

That kiss was soft and sweet, nothing like the burning, passionate kisses they had shared before. He kept it gentle and short, with lips only- it was the kind of kiss someone would give on a first date when you were still getting to know the other one, when everything was still fresh, unknown, delicate.

When he broke the kiss, his cheeks were the color of dark, red wine and his chest was rising rapidly. His hands lingered on her shoulders and his breathing fanned her face for a short moment before he forced himself to take a step back.

"Tomorrow," With that, his seriousness broke into a smile, as if that simple word was the most thrilling thing he had ever said. "You're not gonna regret this, I promise!"

And then he was gone, walking down the stairs to his car. Sky stayed there in the doorway, looking after him, just feeling how her heart was beating in her chest.