|6 years later|
*Eli's P.O.V*
"Noah, you have to clean your room, buddy." I said to him as I watched him from the doorway, where my little boy is playing with his toys.
"But I don't want to, daddy." He whined.
"I'm sorry, buddy, but you have to." I said. "Your grandma and grandpa are coming over today for dinner, including your uncle."
"Fine, I will." He grunted before he started to put away his toys in his toy chest.
I smiled before walking away and heading towards the living room and kitchen area of our house.
Yes, you aren't seeing things. I have a son who is three years old who's named Noah. He has light brown hair but he has blue eyes. When you look into them, Noah's eyes are like ice but it's so pretty. His eyes are one of my favorite features of his.
Sam and I had moved into another house once we found out that she was pregnant with Noah. And you're probably wondering why?
It's because we were planning the future in case we have a second child. And it's a good thing we did just that because Sam is currently pregnant. She's 4 months pregnant, almost 5, and we found out that we're going to be having a girl.
We're going to be naming her Freya Moskowitz.
When I was in the kitchen, I see Sam, my wife, checking dinner and seeing if it's almost ready.
"How is it looking?" I asked, hugging her from behind.
"The chicken is almost done." She said, turning to me. "And I can tell that our little girl is wanting it."
"It's a good meal that we're having." I said, giving her a soft kiss.
"The potatoes are done and so is the vegetables. I just need to make a salad."
"I'll make it, love."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to." I said.
And after I said my words, another voice entered. It was Noah.
"Mom, dad, I need help with my clothes." He said, his eyes so soft as he looked at us.
"I'll help you, sweet boy." Sam said.
I chuckled. "And I'll get started on the salad."
"You do that, mister."
Sam then walked over to Noah, getting ready to help him with his clothes. Then it was up to me for putting together the salad. So I did just that.
And as I stood there, mixing the salad for tonight's family dinner, I couldn't help but steal glances at Sam and Noah.
There she was, helping our little guy into his shirt, her patience as boundless as the sky. Noah, with his tiny fingers fumbling with the buttons, was trying so hard to be big like us.
I had to chuckle; he's got her spirit, no doubt.
The clink of the salad tongs against the bowl was like a metronome to the quiet symphony of our home.
This dinner, it's more than just a meal, it's a testament to the life we've built, the love that fills these walls.
And as I added a dash of dressing to the salad, I felt a sense of completeness, knowing we were all here together, about to share more than just food.
I continued to hear giggling from my son before the doorbell went off.
"I'll get the door." Noah happily ran, not letting Sam or I to take care of it.
Then I heard the words, "Grandpa! Grandma!"
Sam and I looked into the hallway where the front door would be and we could see Noah with Sam's parents. It's just them. Anthony isn't here yet and that's alright. He takes his time when it's family events.
"I love the excitement." Daniel smiled, picking up Noah and tickling him.
"He's been excited about seeing you two." Sam giggled.
"It has been awhile since we've seen him." Amanda said.
"Blame work, that's all I will say." Daniel said.
I just laughed, hearing their conversation.
"How's work?" I asked Daniel as he passed Noah to Amanda and then she started being in a conversation with Sam.
"You would think the dealership wouldn't be so busy now." He huffed, when we went to the kitchen, "With constant talks with Anthony about how he wants to work there, I can't help but think that he should do something that he really wants to do."
"But maybe he does want to work in the dealership."
"I know he does but he's only 22. He doesn't need to rush about finding his footing. He can enjoy life and do college."
"And college is going well for him?" I questioned.
"He is smart, that's for sure." Daniel praised his son.
"Are you guys talking about me?" We heard a voice.
Daniel and I turned to the direction of the voice and we see Anthony there, a grin on his face as he's in jeans and then a white and blue shirt.
"Yes, we were." I confirmed.
"Dad likes to talk about me whenever he gets the chance." Anthony grinned, coming over to Daniel and I.
"I'm proud of you, son."
"I know you are, dad."
"So, Anthony, I hear you want to work at LaRusso Auto."
"Yeah, I do." He said, "I know my dad can be stressed sometimes so I do want to help him out. He lets me but he only gives me about three to four hours. I do want more hours."
"You don't need more hours, Anthony. We've been over this."
"When it's summer, then can I have more hours?"
"If that's what you want, then fine."
"Okay, enough talk about work.." Anthony said, "Let's talk about my future niece that's about to be born in a few months. How is the pregnancy going with Sam?"
"I think it's going well for the most part." I answered, "Sam and I like to talk to Freya before we head to bed and she seems to be comfortable. But I always worry about her when she gets pain."
"Pregnancy takes over a lot." Daniel looked at me.
"It does." I nodded. "But Sam is tough and I know that she's excited to meet our little girl."
"Glad to hear that." Anthony beamed.
"Hey, Eli. Is the salad ready?" Sam then asked, entering the kitchen.
Amanda entered the kitchen behind Sam, still holding Noah as his head would be on his grandma's shoulder.
"Yeah, it's ready."
"Then I'm pretty sure that dinner is done. Let me set the table and can you take the chicken out?"
"Yes, I will."
I went to take the chicken out of the oven but then Daniel stopped me.
"Let me, Eli."
"Oh, that's okay, Daniel. I can do it."
"It's been a long day for the both of you. Please, I insist."
"Okay, sure." I finally gave in.
The heat from the oven grazed my face as Daniel, Sam's father, carefully pulled out the roasted chicken.
It was perfectly bronzed, like the late afternoon sun, and I could almost hear the sizzle of the juices beneath the crisp skin.
The kitchen was alive with the homely scent of rosemary and thyme, and for a moment, I was lost in the rich tapestry of this family's culinary love.
As the chicken made its journey from the oven to the serving platter, I watched the ritual unfold with an outsider's reverence.
Each family member, caught in a ballet of anticipation, filled their plates with a harmony that spoke of many shared dinners.
The clinking of the serving utensils against the fine china was the melody to which this family's symphony was orchestrated.
When it was finally our turn, Sam, Noah, and I helped ourselves. I carved a piece of the chicken, its tenderness yielding to the knife, and laid it beside the vibrant vegetables on my plate.
Amanda, Daniel, and Anthony were on one side of the table while Sam and I sat on the other side, with Noah in the middle of us.
There, surrounded by the warm buzz of familial chatter, I felt a profound sense of belonging. The food was not just nourishment; it was a bridge between hearts.
And as we all tucked into the meal, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the simple, yet profound pleasure of breaking bread with this family. The laughter, the stories, the shared glances—they wove a tapestry I was now a part of.
And as I took my first bite, the flavors bursting on my tongue, I knew these moments would become memories, cherished and savored, long after the last morsel was gone.
"So question about the pregnancy.." Daniel said.
"What's up, dad?" Sam asked, eating some vegetables.
"Are you guys planning a baby shower?"
"Yes, we are." Sam answered, "We're thinking about doing it soon. We've just been trying to think of a theme."
"Do you have ideas for a theme?" Amanda asked.
I nodded. "We have ideas but it's back and forth. We have the idea of Little Mermaid and Garden Fairy. We love the thought of the under the sea theme and getting anything related to ocean or sea. And for the Garden Fairy, we were thinking of fairy lights, pastel colors."
"And I also have this pretty white, lace summer dress that I think will go with it." Sam added.
"The garden fairy theme seems like a good idea." Anthony said, right away.
"It could be really pretty." Amanda said, seeming to like the idea as well.
"Garden fairy." Daniel said.
Sam and I looked at each other with smiles on our faces.
"I think we found the theme for the baby shower."
"Yeah, I think we did." I continued smiling.
"I'm more than happy to help you plan the shower." Amanda looked at her daughter.
"Yeah, I'll definitely need help. Eli helps me with certain things, along with Moon and Yasmine. But I would also like your opinion, mom."
"Yeah, just tell me what other ideas you have after dinner."
"Absolutely."
We continued having conversations as we ate dinner together. And when we finished eating, we had some dessert which consisted of a chocolate pie. And as promised, Sam did discuss baby shower plans with her mom and I ended up in a conversation with Daniel and Anthony.
Now after Sam's family started to go home, I gave Noah a bath and starting to get him ready to go to bed.
"Dad, can I ask you a question?" He asked, as I was tucking him in.
"Sure, buddy." I said, "What's your question?"
"Do you think when my baby sister is born that me and her will get along?"
I bent down, getting on my knees so that I'm closer to him. "Of course. You and Freya will be the best of friends."
"She won't hate me?"
"She won't hate you, buddy." I said, "Freya is very lucky to have you as her big brother. She's going to look up to you and as her big brother, that means you have to protect her. You can do that, right?"
My little man smiled a little. "I can, daddy."
"Good." I smiled and then kissed his forehead. "Time for bed."
"I'm not tired." He whined.
This little argument usually happens every night. Whether it's with Sam or myself. Sometimes, we would give in. Other times, we would have to tell him that he does need to head to bed.
"If I put on Mickey Mouse, can you try to sleep when it's playing?"
"I promise."
I grabbed the remote and then proceeded to put on Mickey Mouse. He loves the songs and it explains his room cause it's like a Mickey Mouse - Disney theme. He has his own plushie of the mouse and he also has one of Donald Duck.
"Goodnight, Noah." I kissed his forehead once more.
"Goodnight, daddy."
A smile was on my face as I started to walk out of his room, turned off the light as he would stare at the tv that filled the noises of Mickey and his friends. I gave my son one more glance before walking down the hall and then running into Sam.
"Are you tired?" I asked her.
"Very much so." She yawned.
"Then let's head to our room."
Sam and I walked to our shared room and we both changed into pajamas. Well, I only sleep in my underwear and some shorts. I usually stay shirtless. But once we had our pajamas, we got comfortable on the bed.
"You're really good with Noah." Sam complimented me. "I can't wait to see how you are with Freya."
"Freya is going to be my little girl. She's going to be spoiled rotten."
"I could definitely see that."
I chuckled. "I'll protect her just like I protect Noah. Our kids mean the world to me."
"They mean the world to me too."
"Noah is going to be a good brother. I know he will be."
"He'll be the best brother." Sam snuggled into me.
My arms wrapped around her, bringing her closer to me. We still love to cuddle with each other and I absolutely love it.
"So what are the plans for tomorrow?" She then asked me.
"Demetri needs my help with something. He's trying to fix something at the house and Yasmine isn't helping him."
"He doesn't allow her to. All Demetri wants her to do is either relax or whatever it is that she wants. Yasmine is fine with it."
"Demetri always talks about how he doesn't want to force her into doing things."
"She's not complaining." Sam countered.
"I think Yasmine finds it hot whenever Demetri is fixing something."
"Why do you think they have sex? It's because she's turned on by the fact that Demetri is very good with his hands."
My eyes widened. "Yasmine said that Demetri is good with his hands?"
Sam laughed. "She'll literally tell me that."
"Oh my gosh. Yasmine!"
"Every time she says something like that, I end up laughing."
"Does Demetri know?"
"I don't think so." Sam giggled.
I shook my head slightly, letting out a small chuckle. "I definitely need to tell him when I'm helping him out tomorrow."
"Demetri won't not stop grinning once you tell him."
"That's alright." I said, "But I'm always wondering how they aren't pregnant yet."
"About that.." Sam trailed off.
"What?"
"Yasmine is pregnant right now."
"Really?" I asked. "That's amazing. How far is she?"
"Only three weeks but at least we now know that Freya will have a friend to hang out with."
"I love how our kids are becoming friends with our friend's kids."
"I do love it, yes." Sam said.
Tory and Robby have a kid, they have a girl. Her name is Clementine Keene, she's only a year older than Noah.
Moon also has a kid. She had a kid with her previous boyfriend but then he left Moon and their kid so our friend is a single mom. But Moon is pretty good at the mom thing if you must know.
Moon has a son. His name is Silas and he's actually the same age as Noah, but he's older by two months.
Yeah, Sam and Moon were pregnant at the same time. It's pretty wild. Now Sam and Yasmine will have some things to talk about because they're pregnant at the same time.
Now with Miguel.. dude hasn't been focusing too much on the dating game. He has dated a girl or two over the past six years but it was never anything serious. He's just been focusing on his work and he seems happy with what's going on right now. I say, good job Miguel.
I was about to say something else but then I saw Sam sleeping peacefully. She must've fallen asleep to the sound of my heartbeat.
I kissed Sam's forehead before moving gently so that I can kiss her growing tummy.
"Sweet dreams, baby girl." I said, talking to Freya, "Your mommy and I can't wait to meet you in a few months. You have so many people who are going to love you. You're so loved already."
I talk to Freya every night before I go to bed. It helps build connection.
And with that, I went back to my sleeping position and closed my eyes.
As I drift off, the world fades away and my thoughts take over, painting a picture of the life I've stumbled into.
It's just wild to think about. There I am, lying beside Sam, the person who went from my fiercest rival to the center of my universe.
Our little guy, Noah, he's sleeping down the hall, and it's like I can feel the love for him just filling up the room, even in my dreams.
It's funny, you know? You go through life thinking you've got it all figured out, who you like, who you don't. And then someone comes along and turns it all upside down.
That's Sam for me. We were at each other's throats, karate war and all, and now... now we're here. Building a life, expecting our second, our little girl, Freya. It's mind-blowing.
I guess life's got a sense of humor. Two people who couldn't stand each other, now we can't stand being apart.
Sparks? Yeah, they definitely fly between us. It's like we're drawn together, no matter what we do.
And as I'm lying here, just on the edge of sleep, I can't help but think... if this is a dream, it's the kind I never want to wake up from.
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We're at the epilogue.
I don't even know where to start because it seems like I just started this book last week. And now we're at the last chapter of the story, of Sam and Eli's story.
When it was the beginning of the story, Sam is thinking about Eli and getting nervous about asking him if he wants to watch a movie with her. Now they're married and have a son, and about to welcome a daughter.
I did so many different things when writing this story. I changed some stuff that happened in the show but I think me doing a bit of remixing helped the story in the way that it did now and I'm proud of what I've created.
Sam and Eli are two of my favorite characters of Cobra Kai and I pretty much ship them together. So it felt so surreal to get the chance to write a story about them and do something that is magical.
There's a lot of good chapters in this story that it'll be hard for me to pick a favorite.
But I want to say thank you for all of the support this book has gotten. I had so much fun and this story means a lot to me. Just thank you.
And also Happy Friday everyone. Much love to you all and I hope you all liked Sam and Eli's last chapter.