Alby was sitting in the corner of the cage on the stool, panting hard, he had one more round left. It wasn't his first MMA fight, but it was Emily's, and it was intense! His eye was swelling and his nose wouldn't stop bleeding. One coach tried to mop him up, while another held ice on the back in his neck. The crowd was wild. Emily had to scream to be heard. The other coaches kept yelling different advice out at him. Emily just shook her head. Alby caught her eye, there was only a few seconds left in their time out.

"Quiet! Em? What do you say?" Alby snapped.

"I'm not really familiar with the wrestling judo grappling sides of mixed martial arts, but his right knee is swelling from the repeated kicks. If you can keep him moving, and keep kicking it...he's in pain. He's going to be favoring that side, he's going to try to protect it. Which means he'll be weak. Keep him in his feet, avoid going to the mat. Hit hard. Hit fast."

He nodded, and they did their little fist pump ritual, with one hand while Emily took his water with the other. Coaches were showed out, and the ref called Alby and the other guy back to the middle.

It was a hard round. Alby's face was was an instant mess again. The other guy tried going to the ground to pin him. Alby managed to get out and back to his feet. The continued sharp kicks to the opponent's already sore swollen knee made him back off.

"Get in there! Finish it!" Emily screamed.

No way he was going to hear her over the wild noise of the crowd. Emily wasn't too familiar with the grappling side of MMA (mixed martial arts) but seemed easy enough to follow.

Alby gave the guys knee another sharp kick, sending him crumpling to the ground. Alby leapt forward and rained punches down. The bell rang for the end of the match. The referee broke them apart. Instantly Alby threw his hands in the air, implying he thought he was the winner. The ref took hold of both fighters hands, listening to the announcer.

"After judges scores, by unanimous decision ALBY THE KING EINSTEIN IS THE WINNER!"

The referee held Alby's gloved hand into the air. The electricity in the air exploded, the walls were shacking the cheering bounced off the walls and ceiling. Emily jumped up and down screaming. His coaches ran into the cage. All hugging and jumping around. Stopped and waved Emily up. She didn't go in, not sure if she should. Emily climbed in and he lifted her up. Her arm around his shoulders his around her waist both their other fists in the air, screaming and cheering.

"It was all you Squirt! That right knee! You were right!"

"I'm always right!" Emily screamed back with the biggest smile. "Now back off I don't want blood all over me!"

Alby put her down and celebrated with everyone. Phones were out getting pictures, and videos. Alby grabbed Emily and got a few, he climbed out and pulled Jorge into the cage for a picture, pulling Emily in as well and his other coach. The camera crew was back in the cage. It was still so loud and wild with cheers and whoops. Alby's coaches and other trainers jumping around

"Alby! It's only your second MMA fight, your second win, what do you contribute to your success?"

"I had a great start. The best coachs gym and training partner! They got me started kept me going help get my scholarship! If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here!"

"Who was that?"

"My late coach Vince Fitz, Jorge here," Alby indicated to Jorge, "he trained me, he's the best kickboxing Trainor around! And Squirt here, Emily Fitz was the best partner! Trained grew up in the ring together. I contribute my win on her!"

The lady went to ask another question but Alby interrupted, "all trainers and coaches you'd be dumb not to take this spit fire!" Alby raised Emily's hand, pulling her closer and lifting her into the air with a wild whoop, making Emily throw a fist into the air in celebration. The other coaches came over jumping and celebrating, disrupting the interview. Alby turned away to celebrate too.

She was proud of Alby. Seeing the kid you grew up with, trained with, seeing him working his way up in the big leagues, being in the corner for him, it was a wild feeling. It's weird how at school she's terrified to walk down the hall she lowers her head and avoids looking at others, but in this wild situation in a fight ring she's comfortable and confident.

~•~

Back home, after a wild celebration in the room, Emily finally managed to get away and find Papa Lee and Jorge. He would drive her home after they dropped Jorge off. The others weren't allowed back. Emily now sat at the table with everyone. It was late, but everyone was wide awake. She finally saw the video that had Minho and Sonya whooping. Thomas, Gally and Newt all dropped their jaws.

"Damn kid. Don't mess with you!" Gally smirked.

"How'd those kids get you at school then?" Thomas asked, frowning.

"Tommy, Love, if you were jumped from behind, taken by surprise by more than one person...?" Newt said trying hard to not roll his eyes.

"Because they were shucken cowards." Minho growled.

"Guys!" Sonya suddenly yelp, "look! Look at this!" She held her phone up she scrambled around the table, Gally pulled her into his lap and everyone crowded around.

"This just posted!"

The official MMA social media page had posted about the fight. The first was a picture of Alby being declared the official winner. Sonya swiped to the next picture, Alby celebrating. Sonya swiped again the next picture was Alby lifting Emily into the air, both of them hands raised in victory, lastly was the interview.

"That's not all!" Sonya flipped to Alby's social media page. He had posted about the win, thanking his coaching and training staff, the MMA organization and the school he has his scholarship with. But his second post had Emily's cheeks flushed pink. He had posted a short visit them warning up, and of her and his coach doing different combinations, and the picture of the two of them celebrating and the interview. His caption was;

"You can hit like a girl too, if you learn to hit this hard! Champion material in this girl!"

The kitchen table erupted in cheers and whoops. Emily stood stunned and confused. But a smile slowly crept across her face. She was proud of herself, it was a weird feeling.

"Were gonna have to higher you an agent!" Papa Lee said from the kitchen.

"Let's see what Joseph Spint says on Monday, first!" Emily grinned back.

"That's my girl!" Minho wrapped her up in a huge hug. "I'm so shucken proud of you!"

They sat at the table eating pizza and laughing late into the night. Gally, Thomas, Newt and Sonya finally left and the house was quiet. Mama and Papa Lee had gone upstairs to bed a while ago.

"So Rocky. How does it feel?"

"Shocking and overwhelming!"

Minho laughed, "well I'm proud of you." He beamed down at her. He had grabbed her hips and pulled her closer. She looked up at him.

"Me fighting and getting all bruised and bloody doesn't turn you off?" She asked.

"Oh Shuck no! The opposite actually..." he smirked down at her.

"I won't be the pretty little cheerleader, I'll be covered in bruises."

"All the better to kiss you, kiss each bruise better. Also Cheerleaders are overrated. And my badass girlfriend can walk me home in the dark."

Emily giggled. Minho had a crooked smirk and his eyes danced with pride and amusement over her face.

"What if your badass girlfriend wore your hoodie and came to practice with you, are cheerleaders still overrated?"

"Only if they're a short blond with beautiful brown eyes I could stare into all day, and only if she's wearing the quarter backs hoodie, her hair in a messy bun and her glasses on. Then cheerleaders are all right."

"That could be arranged."

He chuckled. "You want to come to practice?" He asked, slightly surprised.

"Of course! Football is your life! I want to support your interests like you do mine. And if I'm going to be yelling at the ref for a dumb shucken call at your first game, I better know the rules and what's going on!"

Minho, if possible, smiled even bigger. "Best girlfriend ever!"

"Your other girlfriends didn't come watch?"

He shook his head. "No, but doesn't matter. I have the best girlfriend and I ain't gonna let her go, she's stuck with me for ever. She's the only one who matters." He placed his forehead on hers.

"Hey, before this goes anywhere can I shower? I'm covered in dried sweat from that tryout, and Alby's gross sweat and probably blood. I feel so gross."

Minho sighed dramatically. She kissed him quick and raced to shower. Emerging from the bathroom clean and feeling better, wearing pajama shorts and tank top, she stopped and grinned; Minho was laying on her bed, but had fallen asleep. She took his phone and put it on the side table pulled the blanket up and lay down beside him. He stirred.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." She whispered.

"Just a power nap." His voice was gravelly from sleep, he put a hand behind his head.

"I didn't take that long!"

"No, just late night yesterday."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up with my issues." She said quietly, feeling really guilty for keeping him awake. "I'll try stay here."

"No, I stayed awake for a long time after you fell asleep again. I stayed awake to make sure you were going to be okay. Having you sleep peacefully in my arms on my chest is the best, I just stayed awake."

Emily's stomach back flipped and tears made her eyes glassy. She hadn't had anyone stay awake to make sure she was okay. No one took care of her like he did. She felt that warm fuzzy feeling in her chest. He frowned, and used a thumb to gently wipe the tear away. She gently placed her hand over his and held it for a second, then turned her head, kissing the palm of his hand. His eyes darkened slightly. Emily slid a leg over him and shifted so she was laying on top of him, her head on his chest. She heard him hum. Minho's arm slid down and tightened around her waist and back.

"That's better." he hummed.

She tilted her head to look up at him again. He raised his head off the pillow to look at her. She kissed him gently.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

He gave her a lazy kiss, "My absolute pleasure. It's my favorite thing."

She kissed him back, a bit longer, pulling away he whispered against her lips "I love you, Emily."

His arm around her back pulled her tighter and higher, kissing her more hungerly while she sucked in a breath, at the same time Minho removed his hand from behind his head, he cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer. Emily pushed up on her hands, propping herself up, one sliding into his hair. Both their bodies tensing. Emily's eyes fluttered closed.

Minho deepened their kiss with a small growl, his hand splayed on her back. Minho raised his head trying to kiss her deeper, his hand tangled in her hair, trying to pull her closer. Emily sucked in a breath when his hand slipped under the hem of her shirt. His hand was warm and it sent goosebumps over her skin. When his hand tenderly traveled over her shin she shivered. 

He pulled away enough to ask if she was okay. 

"Just tickles." She smiled against his lips. 

He did it again purposely. She giggled and squirmed, both his hands where now under the hem of her tank top. She shrieked and tried to wiggle away, but Minho now had both hands clamped on her hips. 

"Stop! It tickles!" She shrieked again. 

"Mmm no." He muttered against her lips, "Now that I know your ticklish..." He gave her a sexy sly smirk, and his eyes darkened with a playfulness that made Emily's heart explode and a zoo of animals dance in her stomach. 

"You wouldn't dare!" She tried to sit up, but he was holding her too tight. 

"Oh I would..." He chuckled and flipped her over, she shrieked again, but ended up laughing, a big loud belly laugh. Minho laughed at her and attacked her, making her shriek and laugh and squirm. 

"No! It tickles! Minho!" She giggled, between gasping, trying to stop him from tickling her. He just buried his face into her neck. 

"Minho! That tickles! Stop!" She shrieked. 

He immediately sat up, his chest rising and falling. 

"Baby? You okay?" 

"What? Yeah, of course..." She answered confused, her chest was heaving from laughing, her stomach hurt from laughing. But her eyebrows were pulled together, and the corners of her mouth turned down. She tilted her head looking at him. 

"Min? What's wrong?" 

"You said stop." 

Emily opened her mouth but nothing came out. If it was possible her heart loved him even more. His respect for her, his care and tenderness. It wasn't forced, it was just who he was, He could be intimidating and protective, but he was so soft and gentle. 

"Minho..." She breathed, it was like a sigh. She knew her heart was safe with him. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, pulling him back. 

"I'm fine, it just tickled, but now come here. I wanna snuggle you 'cause I love you even more." 

He willingly came, laying his head down on her stomach. She ran her fingers through his hair, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight they fell asleep.