"He's what?" Tanner couldn't help but raise his voice out of shock and disbelief after his daughter told him that night at dinner Rudy sold the dojo and was taking the job Blake offered.

Kate sighs, propping her elbow on the table and leaning her chin on her hand. "I know, crazy, right? I mean, it's not gonna be the same without Rudy. Why should we even bother keep going there if Rudy's not our sensei anymore?" She muttered with a frown.

Tanner nods in understanding. "I get it, Kate. Rudy's been a huge part of that dojo. But sometimes people need to make decisions that are best for them, even if they're tough."

Kate groans, running her fingers through her hair. "I know. I just don't know if the dojo can still be what it was without him. He was like the glue holding everything together." Her voice wavered slightly as she tried to hold back the sadness creeping in. She blinks the sudden tears that brimmed in her eyes and quickly cleared her throat. "It's gonna be so weird not having him there."

Tanner reaches across the table and takes her hand. "You're not the only one, honey. This is a big change. I don't know what the dojo will be without Rudy, but you'll figure it out. You're a strong girl, and you've got your friends and your boyfriend to support you. Things will work out."

Kate sniffles, squeezing his hand. "Thanks, dad. I hope you're right." She pauses as she thought of an idea. "Wait, why don't you take the dojo?" She suggested, hopeful.

"Kate..." Tanner sighs, pulling away and leaning back in his chair. He was pretty well known in the karate world, having been undefeated back in the day and was respected by many, but owning and running a dojo was a big commitment. "You know I've been out of the game for years. I'm not sure I could take on something like that now. It's a lot of work, and it's not just about teaching karate. It's about keeping the spirit of the dojo alive, the community that Rudy taught, that he built. That's something special."

Kate nodded. "I get it, and I'm not trying to pressure you or anything, but dad, you'd be a great sensei. I mean, you have all the knowledge, and you have the respect and the skill-"

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, honey, but I can't. Even if I wanted to, it's not an option. I can't run two businesses and we don't have the money to afford it either." Tanner interrupts softly, hating the way her face fell. He hated it when she was upset, and this was no exception. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

Kate's face softened, her shoulders slumping a little as she absorbed her dad's words. She hadn't thought about the financial side of things. It was so easy to get wrapped up in the emotions of the situation, but she knew the reality was that taking on the dojo wasn't just about passion or skill; it required a lot of resources—resources they didn't have.

"I understand," Kate said quietly, trying to push down the disappointment she felt. "I guess I just don't know what to do next. And I just thought that would've been perfect." She mumbled, picking at her food, suddenly not feeling hungry anymore. The sadness from before was back and she wanted nothing more than to retreat into her room and wallow in her emotions.

Tanner watched her for a moment, his heart sinking as he saw her retreat within herself. He knew when his daughter was struggling, she would tend to isolate and process her feelings in private. It wasn't always the best way, and he had been encouraging her to open up more, but the situation was still fresh and it had come as a shock. He wasn't surprised that she was processing the news the way she was. He understood how hard this was for her, and he wished he could give her the answers, the perfect solution, but he knew he couldn't. Life wasn't perfect, and sometimes things didn't work out the way you wanted. Still, he hoped she would find her way through this. She was so strong and resilient, and he knew she could get through anything.

"I think I'm gonna head to bed early tonight." She suddenly stood up from the table, her voice barely above a whisper. The weight of the conversation had taken its toll on her, and she needed space to process everything. "Night, dad." She brought her half empty plate to the kitchen, cleaning it off before putting her dishes in the dishwasher.

Tanner watched with a frown as Kate moved towards the stairs, her shoulders hunched with the heaviness of her emotions. He felt the familiar ache of wanting to fix things for her, but knew that sometimes the only thing he could do was be there for her when she was ready to talk.

"Alright, sweetheart. Just remember, I'm here whenever you want to talk." He called softly after her, trying to convey the warmth and support she needed, even if it was unspoken.

Kate paused at the bottom of the stairs, her back turned to him. She nodded quietly, though she didn't say anything. Then, she disappeared up the stairs, leaving Tanner alone as he began cleaning up. As the quiet settled around him, the sadness that had filled the space earlier was replaced with an air of uncertainty. What would happen to the dojo? Who would run it now that Rudy was gone? Would it survive without him? And what about his students, the people he had been training for so long, the ones who had become his family? He didn't know, but he hoped for all their sakes, things would be okay.

****

When Kate got to her room, she leaned against the door, letting the tears finally fall. Her emotions had been building all day, and the weight of them had finally spilled over. She had held it together for as long as she could, but being alone in her room, away from everyone else, she finally let herself feel it all. It wasn't fair, she thought, how life could change so quickly, how everything could fall apart so easily. And yet, that was exactly what had happened. Nothing was the same anymore, and she didn't know what to do.

As she moved to get ready for bed, still letting her tears fall, she was tempted to call Jack, but it was late and she didn't want to bother him. So instead, she curled up under the covers, closing her eyes and hoping sleep would come soon.

But sleep was evading her. She had been lying in bed for over an hour, staring at the ceiling as her mind raced with thoughts of the dojo and Rudy and Jack and her dad. Her body was tired, but her mind was still reeling. With a frustrated sigh, she sat up, reaching for her phone. She bit her lip, wondering if it was too late to call him. She looked out the window, next door to where his house was. His bedroom window faced hers, but she frowned when she didn't see a light on. She hesitated, staring at his dark window. Calling Jack this late would feel like an intrusion, but she was aching for someone who understood the weight of her sadness. With a sigh, Kate decided against calling him, not wanting to disrupt his sleep if he was sleeping. Instead, she put her phone down and drew her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly.

She didn't know how much time passed, but her heart was still heavy. She wished she could turn off her thoughts, but they kept racing through her mind, no matter how hard she tried to focus on something else. She was starting to wonder if maybe she should just give up on sleep when she heard a soft tap on her window. Kate's head snapped up, and she blinked in surprise as she saw Jack waving at her through the glass. She quickly got out of bed and opened the window. She felt relieved to see him, and her heart swelled with love for him.

"Hey." Jack smiled softly.

"What are you doing here?" She couldn't help but smile back.

"Well, I couldn't sleep, and I figured you couldn't either, so...here I am." He said, looking sheepish.

Kate laughs softly, shaking her head in amusement. "How'd you know?"

"I know you." Jack softly replies, gently stroking her cheek. "Now, let's go." He grinned, tugging her towards the window.

A small giggle left her lips as she looks at him with surprise. "Go where? Jackie, it's around ten!"

Jack shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "That's early for an adventure."

Kate raises an eyebrow, her sadness starting to fade as curiosity took its place. "And what adventure are you planning, exactly?"

"You'll see," He said with a wink. "But trust me, you'll love it. Now come on, before you change your mind."

She hesitated, glancing back at her dark room, but the weight of her emotions pushed her toward the unexpected. "Alright," She said with a sigh, rolling her eyes with a smile. "But if we get caught, this is on you." She quickly put her shoes on before she followed him.

"Deal." He chuckled. He helped her climb out the window and down to the ground, his hands on her hips steadying her. Once they were both safely on the grass, Jack took her hand, leading her down the quiet, empty street.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the local park. The place was empty, the night air calm and cool, and the sky was a canopy of stars. Kate glanced up at the starlit sky in awe, her earlier sadness beginning to melt away as she took in the beauty above her. Jack watched her, a soft smile on his face, happy to see a flicker of peace replace the worry in her eyes.

He led her to the swings and gave her a gentle push, her laughter breaking the quiet of the night. It was like they'd escaped from reality, leaving behind the weight of everything that had been burdening them both. Kate swung higher, her hair flowing behind her, as she looked back at him with a smile that made his heart skip a beat.

"Thank you, Jack," She murmurs, as she slowed down and he took a seat on the swing next to hers. "I didn't realize how much I needed this."

"Rina, no need to thank me." He said softly, nudging her shoulder with his. "I just wanted to cheer you up, to remind you that you're not alone."

Kate smiles fondly, letting his words sink in. He had always been there for her, through every high and low, knowing exactly what to say to make things feel a little less overwhelming. She looks down, her fingers playing with the chain on the swing as she took a deep breath. "It's just...Things feel so uncertain now, you know? Like everything's changing, and I don't know what to do."

Jack gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I get it. But no matter how things change, some things stay the same." He glances up at the stars and then back at her. "And one of those things is us. I'll always be here for you, Rina. Just like now."

Kate's heart felt lighter, her fears softening in the warmth of his promise. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Jackie."

"You're life would probaby be less chaotic, that's for sure." Jack teased with a smirk and Kate laughed, the sound breaking through the lingering sadness that had been pressing on her all night. His smirk turned into a fond smile, his heart skipping a beat at her laugh.

"Maybe," She replies, rolling her eyes with a playful smile. "But it would also be a lot lonelier."

Jack's expression softened, and he squeezed her hand again, understanding what she meant. It'd be the same for him if he didn't have her in his life. They were lucky to have each other, and no matter how uncertain things got, they always had each other to lean on.

"Come on, babe." He said after a few moments, standing up and tugging her off the swing.

"Where are we going?" She chuckled, confused yet curious as she followed him.

"You'll see." He replied with a mischievous grin, leading her away from the swings toward a small path that wound deeper into the park. They walked hand-in-hand, their footsteps muffled by the grass, as the quiet of the night wrapped around them. After a short walk, they reached a hidden clearing surrounded by tall trees. In the center was a small bench Jack had dragged here a few summers back, when they'd wanted a secret spot all their own. Kate gasped softly, seeing a few candles Jack had brought flickering around it, casting a warm glow on the secluded space.

"Jack," Her eyes widen as she turns to look at him with surprise and disbelief, touched by the thoughtfulness. "Did you really do all this just for me?"

He shrugs, looking slightly embarrassed. as he rubs the back of his neck. "I just thought...You might need a place to breathe for awhile...Away from all the noise." He glances at her, his expression one of love and care that made butterflies swarm in her stomach. "Life can get overwhelming, Rina. And when it does, we need a little escape, you know?"

Kate's heart swells, and she felt her earlier sadness dissolving into something softer, warmer. She loves this boy so much. She takes his hand, squeezing it as they sat down together. "Thank you, baby." She murmurs, her voice full of gratitude. "You always know just what I need."

They sat in comfortable silence, the faint candlelight illuminating their faces as they gazed up at the stars. Being here, with him, felt like a reminder that no matter how complicated life got, there were always simple, beautiful moments to hold onto. She leans her head against his shoulder, letting out a contented sigh. "You're right," She said softly. "No matter what changes, this—us—it's something I can always count on."

Jack smiles, resting his head against hers. "Always, sweetheart." He promised, his voice a soft echo in the night. And as they sat there together, Kate felt a new sense of peace settling within her, knowing that whatever came next, she wasn't facing it alone. He lifted his head off hers, turning to face her as he reached his free hand up to cup her cheek. He then leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.

She responded immediately, her heart swelling with love for him. She closed her eyes, losing herself in the warmth of his touch. She leaned into him, her hand resting against his chest, and sighed softly as the kiss deepened. When they finally pulled apart, they were both smiling. Kate rested her head against his shoulder, a warm feeling enveloping her, and as they continued looking up at the stars, her earlier fears seemed further away. As long as they had each other, she knew things would be okay.

A/N ugh jate i love them so much, the pic above is them at the park i made with the help of bing image ai but yeah i dont think i have officially made a ship name for them but i was thinking maybe jate or kack? idk what do we think??