Disclaimer: I do not own Cobra Kai, the Karate Kid, the Next Karate Kid, or any of its characters. I only own my OCs. Anything you may recognize belongs to Netflix and its original owners and distributors.

Julie sat outside of Mr. Miyagi's house in her car. She had reached out to him a few days prior and they had agreed to meet that afternoon. It was three minutes until it was time and Julie didn't make a move to get out of the car. She let the engine continue running and waste gas. Julie looked down at her pregnant belly and then pressed her head against the steering wheel.

"What the fuck am I doing here?" Julie asked herself, pressing her forehead harder into the tan leather of the car. "This was a mistake…"

The thought was interrupted by a sudden knock on her car window, startling Julie greatly. She realized it was just her sensei and she rolled down the window.

"Hi, Mr. Miyagi,"

"Julie-san," Mr. Miyagi greeted. "Turn off the car and come in,"

Julie nodded and did as she was told. I guess there's no turning back now. Once the car was turned off and the window was rolled back up, Mr. Miyagi opened her car door and offered a hand to her. Julie turned her body to the side, taking his hand and sliding out slowly.

"Inside, come," Mr. Miyagi urged and Julie nodded, making her slow approach behind him. She shut the door her and then took a seat on the couch before Mr. Miyagi could tell her. "I make tea,"

"You really don't have to…"

"I make Julie-san tea," Mr. Miyagi stated as a matter of fact as he came over, placing the cup in front of Julie.

"Thank you," Julie accepted the tea, holding the cup and blowing the rising steam off. "Smells good," Julie was surprised. She had noticed during the course of this pregnancy that she didn't usually take to smells very well.

"Lemon and Peppermint with Ginger," Miyagi said as Julie took a sip. "Good for baby,"

"He thanks you too,"

"You have boy?"

Julie shrugged. "I don't know," She had declined when they asked her if she wanted to know the gender. She did not think it mattered. "Baby feels big, kicks hard, does that mean it's a boy?" Julie laughed slightly.

Julie and Mr. Miyagi sat for a few moments, not saying anything as Julie took a few more sips of the tea. Eventually, he finally broke the silence.

"How been Julie-san?"

Julie sighed, laughing slightly as she placed a hand on her stomach and moved clockwise in a circle three times. "Where do I begin?"

"Miyagi have time,"

"It all started with a boy," Julie began.

…

Julie had just started her fourth semester at college. This was going to be the last semester before she applied to get into her program. She was ready to be completely focused on her school work and not let anything distract her; until she accidently ran into him.

Julie blinked as all her papers flew in the air and her books smacked against the ground. She sighed and then went to try and gather everything up.

"I am so sorry," The boy said as he got down on his knees to try and help her pick up her stuff.

"Don't worry about it," Julie said, not looking up. "I should have been looking where I was going,"

"Well, that's something we have in common,"

Julie looked up and smiled slightly. She just looked for a moment, but then stood up and awkwardly tried to leave. "Well, bye,"

"Wait!" The boy stopped her and handed her one paper she had managed to miss. "You probably don't want to forget that,"

"No, I probably don't," Julie's eyes were directly on him as she took the paper from him.

"So, are you a senior?" He asked and Julie nodded. "I thought I recognized you from one of my classes. Do you have Horvath?"

"He's my first class," Julie nodded.

"You must be an idiot, too,"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, I thought I was an idiot for taking an 8 AM class, but taking a class with him that early goes beyond stupidity,"

"We were naïve," Julie clarified. "We thought, we can do it, we will get so much done. And then, you spend most of class trying to keep yourself from passing out,"

"Sounds right," The boy laughed. "What's your name?"

"Julie,"

The boy offered his hand to her and she shook it. "It's nice to meet you, Julie," He held her hand for a few extra moments. "I'm Reggie,"

That moment is what changed everything. Julie's determination to give school her undivided attention didn't go as planned. She decided to skip studying for one night and meet up with Reggie on campus. And after that, those dates became more frequent until it seemed as though they were inseparable. Julie worked hard, and when she needed it, had a good distraction. The end of the semester neared and Julie found out she had been accepted into the program she had wanted and she felt like she was in love. It felt like everything was coming together perfectly; until a week later.

"Babe?" Reggie placed his hand on top of Julie's. She was wearing a sweatshirt that was too big for her, starring out the window in a coffee shop as she sipped on lemon water. "Are you alright?" Julie felt herself becoming choked out.

"I…"

"Julie, look at me," She hesitated, but did as he asked. "Clearly there's something on your mind. Just get it out," Julie kept hesitating, knowing that there a few ways he could react to the news. She took a breath, telling herself that he would understand.

"I'm pregnant,"

Reggie was silent for a minute. "What?"

"I'm six weeks pregnant," She repeated, elaborating slightly. She reached to grab his hand and he pulled away quickly.

"How could you be so fucking irresponsible?" Reggie snapped.

Julie blinked. She stared at him with her mouth open, not knowing what to say at first. "I…"

"This is a nightmare," Reggie slammed his fists on the table. He didn't want to believe it.

"You had a part in this too," Julie eventually spoke.

Reggie took a breath and nodded. "Right," He couldn't deny that. "It'll be fine,"

"Really?" Julie looked up, feeling hopeful.

"We will go down to a clinic tomorrow and sort this out,"

Julie frowned, feeling disappointed. That was not what she wanted to hear. "No,"

"What was that?" Reggie raised his voice.

"No," Julie forced herself to speak up. "You aren't actually suggesting we kill our baby,"

"Not suggesting," Reggie shook his head. "I'm telling you,"

"Telling me?" Julie couldn't believe that he was demanding that she do this.

"We are not having a baby," Reggie stated as a matter of fact. "Do you realize what I have going for me? And a kid will ruin all of that. You can't be stupid enough to not understand that,"

"We aren't having a baby," Julie nodded.

"Good," Reggie was glad she seemed to understand.

"I am having a baby,"

"What—"

"I am the one carrying this baby," Julie pointed out. "And you think I didn't have plans? I just got into the school I wanted to—"

"So?" Reggie shrugged. "That doesn't even compare to everything I got going for me," He honestly didn't think she would go through with the program. "And I honestly didn't think you would stick with it," He had heard it was a difficult program. Not everyone made it through and he didn't think Julie was cut out for that kind of thing.

Julie chose not to comment on that for now. "There are other options," Julie said. "We can put the baby up for adoption—"

"You can do what you want," Reggie didn't care. "If you want to go to the clinic and get it taken care of, I'll take you, pay for it, and even hold your hand if you want. But beyond that, I want no part of it,"

"That's it?"

"Yeah," Reggie nodded without hesitation. "So what's it going to be, Julie?"

...

"Julie-san decide have baby," Miyagi nodded.

Julie nodded. "And boy no be here,"

"What's the matter?" Miyagi noticed Julie seemed sad.

"What if I made a mistake?" Julie asked. At the time, having an abortion just seemed wrong. The fact that Reggie had no reservations about leaving her alone in this seemed wrong. All of this seemed wrong and Julie wondered if this was the best choice.

"All life sacred," Miyagi placed hand on her stomach.

Julie remembered back to when she was sixteen and she spent two weeks living with monks. They taught her the importance of respecting all living things. Julie smiled slightly, putting her hand on Miyagi's which remained on her pregnant belly. I guess I made one right decision…

"I don't know what I am going to do, I can give the baby up for adoption,"

"Baby find family,"

Julie nodded. "But there is a chance that couldn't happen and growing up in foster care…" Julie didn't want to imagine what that would be like. "Do I want that for the baby?"

"Julie-san keep baby?"

"I don't think I'm ready for that," Julie shook her head. She wasn't sure that was really an option. "I don't have any family, I don't have a job, and I am still in school— trying to get through school…" Putting herself through school while pregnant was hard. She couldn't imagine what it would be like after the baby came. Julie wasn't sure she could keep this baby, even if she wanted to. "What could I give this baby?"

"Julie-san give lots of love," Miyagi answered. "Love all baby need,"

Julie felt so mixed up and she didn't know what the right choice was. "Mr. Miyagi, please, tell me what I should do,"

"Only Julie-San can decide," Miyagi took her hand. "Know Julie-San make right choice,"

"How can you be so sure?" Julie didn't know how he could be so sure. She had no idea what the right decision was or how she would figure it out.

"Just know," Miyagi smiled slightly. "Everything be okay,"

Over the next several weeks, Julie had been spending a lot of time with Mr. Miyagi. Ever since that day they talked, Julie had been coming over more and more. Though initially, it had mainly been for more of the tea he made, since it seemed to be the only thing she could take that would settle the baby down. Eventually, Mr. Miyagi invited her to stay with him. Julie had refused at first, but eventually, he managed to convince her it would be for the best. It would be more comfortable than the dorms at school and much quieter; that was something Julie needed.

Now, it was mid-December and the holidays were approaching. Julie had just finished up the latest semester of her school program; she was now on break. The baby was going to be coming the first week of January and now she just had to take it easy and wait.

Julie went to check up on Mr. Miyagi, who had been checking up on a few bonsais for the last hour. "Julie-san need rest," He didn't have to turn his head to know she was there.

"I'm pregnant, not on bed rest," Julie remarked.

"Baby needs Julie-san to rest,"

"Well, then maybe baby shouldn't be making it so difficult," Julie laughed slightly. Even if she wanted to be resting, that felt impossible. Julie felt too uncomfortable and most nights she didn't get more than a few hours. "There will be time for that once the baby is born,"

"Julie-san no sleep after baby comes,"

"Maybe…"

"Julie-san decided?" Mr. Miyagi noticed her hesitation.

"I'm still not sure," She shrugged, rubbing her belly. "But there is this couple that wants to talk to me about adopting the baby. So, maybe if it works out…" Julie was going through all the options. She wanted everything to be decided by her due date. "I wish you'd just tell me what you really think I should do,"

"Miyagi can't say," He said. "Only Julie-san can,"

Julie rolled her eyes. "I've heard that before," She shut her eyes as she felt a cramp.

"Julie-san okay?"

Julie nodded, waiting for the cramp to pass. "Baby is active today," Some days were more than others and this seemed to be a big one. She had these cramps going on and off for the last hour.

"Want some tea?"

Julie nodded. "If you don't mind,"

Miyagi nodded, putting his tools down and standing up. "Come," He said and Julie slowly followed him inside and into the kitchen. "Miyagi make tea,"

"Thank you…" Julie grabbed onto the counter as she felt another cramp, each one feeling more intense than the last. "God, these keep getting worse," Mr. Miyagi could say anything, Julie felt something like a water balloon popping and then looked down. "Oh…" She stared down at the wet spot on the floor around her feet with wide eyes. "Baby definitely is busy, my water just broke…"

"We go hospital," Miyagi moved as quickly as he could, grabbing Julie's coat and putting it on her and then grabbing the car keys. "Remember breathe, Julie-san," Mr. Miyagi took slow deep breaths so Julie could copy them on the way to the car.

"I'm breathing," Julie said, as a way to focus on that rather than the pain or the fact that she was freaking out. The baby wasn't due for another few weeks.

"Julie-san have baby today,"

Julie nodded, unable to believe it. "I'm having this baby today,"

Mr. Miyagi managed to get Julie to the hospital. She was there for several hours in labor and he had not left her side, except occasionally to get her some ice chips. But eventually, Julie had finally reached ten centimeters and they had her start pushing.

"Okay Julie, one more should do it,"

Julie shook her head, feeling utterly exhausted. "I can't…" She didn't think she had it in her.

"Julie-san," Miyagi said and Julie looked at him. "Must push,"

"I can't,"

"No can't," Mr. Miyagi shook his head. "Julie-san can," He took her hand. "Julie-san not give up,"

Julie nodded, taking a few breaths. "Okay," She pushed one last time, giving it everything, all the strength she could muster up, and then she fell back onto the bed as she heard the sound of a baby crying.

"It's a boy,"

"I did it," Julie shut her eyes, trying to catch her breath.

"Did good Julie-san,"

"Does mom want to hold her baby?" The nurse asked once they had cleaned him up.

Julie hesitated. "Sure,"

The nurse carefully handed the newborn off to Julie and she held him close. She looked into his eyes and she couldn't help but smile as he looked up at her and stopped crying.

"Have boy," Mr. Miyagi said.

Julie nodded. "And he's perfect,"

"I'm so sorry," The nurse said. "I didn't realize, you are putting the baby up for adoption?" She had just been told.

Julie looked at Miyagi and then back down to the baby in her arms. "No," She shook her head. "I changed my mind," She had thought about it. She thought that might have been her only option, but now, she knew there was no way she was giving him up. "He's my son,"

"Julie-san decide,"

"How the hell did you know?" Julie chuckled. It was as if he knew what she was going to choose.

Miyagi shrugged. "Baby need name,"

"He needs a strong one," Julie knew just the perfect one. Her grandfather, and the hawk she rescued in high school, were the two people she thought of when she thought of strength and she knew that was something her son would need.

"Be strong like mother," Mr. Miyagi knew how strong she was and he was sure he would take after her.

"He will be," Julie looked down at her son. "And you'll always have me, Jack,"

A/N: Well, hello there! It's been a while. School and work definitely can keep a person busy. Anyways, I've been dabbling with some ideas and characters through RPs, and then I decided I wanted to write a story and thought this could be fun with the holidays coming. This chapter serves as a prologue before the story starts, so stay tuned for more.

Please don't forget to review.