Dedicated to AbbyWatson4

"When you feel life out of focus, always return to basic of life."

This particular piece of advice from Mr. Miyagi constantly rang in Daniel's ear, especially after the incident with Terry Silver at the dojo. He unlocked his house's sturdy front door, making sure to enter the code to the security system first this time. Just a week ago, he wouldn't have given a simple action like unlocking a door a second thought.But then again, who would? But after he almost died in the fire of the Miyagi-Do dojo, a new light seemed to shine on everything around him, reminding him of all the little things to appreciate in his life.

As long as I'm still breathing, my family will be safe.

Aside from being a little messier than usual, the LaRusso household looked mostly the same as he remembered it. The hand-made wooden coat rack was placed next to the door, his and Amanda's special key hooks hanging beside it. He could hear the distinctively loud sound that always came from their laundry room when their unnecessarily loud washing machine was on. Little bursts of light shone through the sliding doors in the living room.

At least the house is the same.

"Dad, you're home!" exclaimed Sam, happily as she and Anthony ran out of the kitchen and hugged him.

"Woah, I've gotten more attention from the two of you in the past three days than in the last year, " joked Daniel as he squeezed his kids' shoulders gently.

Nothing could feel more rewarding to a father than getting to hug his children again.

"Okay, let your father breathe, please," smiled Amanda as she walked into the room, holding a blue file folder in her right hand.

She was wearing a knee-length plum dress, her hair hanging down barely to her shoulders.

Despite her warm smile, Daniel could see the worry hiding behind her eyes.

Is she still worrying about me, or is it something else?

"Sorry, dad," said Sam as she and Anthony slowly let go, half-smiling.

Even as they talked, their gaze lingered on his bandaged hands.

"Honestly, they look much worse than they feel," reassured Daniel, sympathetically.

"I know dad, but just like it's your job to worry about us, it's our job to worry about you," replied Sam.

Daniel couldn't help smiling as he looked at his two wonderful children.

I couldn't have asked for better ones.

"Plus, maybe it'll give you some really cool battle scars," added Anthony, excitedly.

"I think your dad has enough of those for a lifetime," argued Amanda, playfully as she kissed Daniel on the cheek.

"Ah, really mom?" asked Anthony sarcastically as he pretended to look away in disgust.

"Yeah, I'm going to my room to study," stated Sam, agreeingly.

She quickly glanced once more at Daniel before heading off to her room.

Anthony left soon after to his own room, leaving Daniel and Amanda in the living room.

"I hate worrying them so much," sighed Daniel, sadly.

"This family's been through worse. Plus, it's not like you wanted to get burned alive by that psychopath," comforted Amanda, honestly.

Even though he completely agreed with her, a part of him still blamed himself for what happened.

I had the chance to finish Silver and I didn't. Now the kids are suffering and it's my fault.

"Also, I'm sorry to have to add this on to everything you're dealing with right now, but I checked over the cost for the dojo repairs, and it's not good. Especially with LaRusso Auto's decrease in buyers since you left," explained Amanda before handing over the file folder to Daniel.

Even from just a quick look at the numbers, he could confirm what she had said.

"Ten-thousand dollars in just the materials!" Exclaimed Daniel, exasperatedly.

"Not to mention the cost of the work itself," added Amanda, agitatedly.

Daniel didn't have to see his wife's expression to know that she was thinking the exact same thing as him.

There's no way we're going to be able to pay for this, at least without going broke.

"Well, I guess that's settled," finished Daniel, a strong sense of defeat weighing down on his chest.

"Maybe we can find somewhere else where you can train?" suggested Amanda, hopefully.

"Maybe," shrugged Daniel, smiling feebly.

It wasn't that there weren't other dojos they could train at, it was that none of the other dojos would be Mr. Miyagi's.

He trusted me to keep it safe, and I failed him.