Sonya had pulled her all around the mall, she insisted that Minho insisted she had to get a whole outfit. Sonya got her trying all the things on, but she also had an eye for finding amazing deals, so Emily didn't feel as guilty; Minho wouldn't have carried, he made that very clear, but paying full price was something Emily had never done before and Minho wouldn't have bothered to look at the price tag.

Emily was waiting for Sonya when her phone buzzed and it was Minho.

Hey babe. How's it going with Sonya?

Good. :)

Great! I'm glad you're having fun! Is it alright if I go back with the guys?

I didn't know you were still here! :(

Hey! Turn that frown upside down!

):

Okay...listen here you little smarty pants!

;)

You are the cutest human on this whole plant! And I get to call you mine! I'm so lucky!

Oh stop!

Nah. Imma go on.
*Inhales*

*Slaps hand over mouth*

*Kiss you instead*

I'll allow it.

Ya you will. ;)
But you're okay with Sonya and I'll go home with the guys? You don't need me?

I always need you! <3

Not what I meant... but I need you too! I miss your face.

Sonya is pretending to throw up.
But you should read some of her and Gally's text! *Eye roll* also cover your eyes and don't tell Newt!

LOL
Though I'd rather not...

Have fun with the boys. Sonya is dragging me to some other place.

Enjoy Babe!

Sonya is wondering if you're okay to share, and asked if I'd spend the night at her place.

Fiiiiiine. I guess I can share.

I mean it's not the same and Imma miss you. But I haven't had girls night in a long time.

I'm teasing. Have fun! I'm always a phone call away. :)
I'll pick you up tomorrow for your birthday date!

I love you so shucken much.

I love you too!

Sonya dragged Emily to the nail place in the mall. She had never done this before either. Sonya walked her through it. And the ladies were so squeally and fun. Gushing over the fact her boyfriend was paying for her to get all dolled up.

After that, Sonya dragged her to one last place. Emily went beat red and shook her head. Sonya stepped in front of her.

"Em. It's not for him. It's for you. It's about damn time you felt pretty. It's about damn time you did something for you! No, he won't see it, no he won't know. But. It's for YOU to feel pretty. Now come on."

Sonya took her hand and pulled her into the underwear store. Emily's face was bright red. But Sonya was so calm and nonchalant about it, and all about making Emily feel confident, and kept reminding her it was about her and not Minho. Sonya helped her find lingerie that made her feel pretty yet still comfortable.

Now that Sonya was finally content with everything they got she let them go home. Sonya pulled into their driveway, and Chuck was there to greet them with big slobbery kisses.

They ordered pizza, watched movies, talked about their boys, and school and all the other things. Emily laughed until she was snorting and crying. They used hair brushes to sing into, and ate more snacks. They finally crashed, crawling into Sonya's bed, and threw a movie on. Sonya was out in a few minutes. Emily stayed awake. Having trouble falling asleep. She looked at the clock, and it was late. But she pulled her phone out.

I can't sleep.

She lay her phone down. It was only a minute later her phone buzzed.

So give me a call.

I can't, no, I feel bad.
Also, why are you up?

Cuz I heard my phone buzz.
But you don't need to feel bad Emmy.
I love hearing your voice, always!
ALSO HAPPY OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY! :D

You woke up just from a small buzz?
From my text?
I guess it is my birthday.
Thanx Babe. <3

I had my phone volume on, so it was a ringer.

Why'd you have your volume on?

In case you called.

Minho! What the actual shuck! Why are you like the perfect BF ever?!

No idea, genetics?

But...I can't sleep.

Call me. I'll read you something until you fall asleep. I'll stay until you're asleep.

Minho did as he said. He read out loud over the phone the book he was reading for ELA, read until Emily fell asleep. His voice kept her anxiety down, and her muscles relaxed and her breathing evened out and she drifted off to sleep with Minho reading her a book.

~•~

Sonya had finished getting Emily's hair and makeup done. She wouldn't stop vibrating with excitement. She kept wiggling and squirming. Sonya rolled her eyes but laughed at her. It also took them forever because they had the music turned up, bathroom dance parties are a must when you get ready, but it takes extra long.

With a nervous exhale she pulled her new clothes out. Sonya was right, something special for just her, under the dress made her hold her head up and made her feel that little extra. She looked in the mirror for a second. It wasn't that she was ashamed of herself, she worked hard at the gym...it was the psychological damage inflicted on her, thinking she wasn't good enough or didn't deserve it. She fought hard with herself trying to remind herself that she was loveable, that she was enough, people liked her for her. Dr Crawford reminded her of this every session: "take the compliment and say thank you." Minho was amazing at filling her cup, making her feel valued.

With Sonya's help she got the dress on without messing up her hair. She added the black tights, jacket and shoes and completed the outfit with a little black hand bag.

"Dang girl!" Sonya stepped back with a smirk. "If I wasn't dating Gally and I swung for your team I'd totally fight Minho for you."

"Uhh thank you..?" Emily scrunched her face trying to figure that out.

"Readjust that lipstick and your gold. Phone, wallet, liplips can go into the bag. Maybe some tissues, you planning on crying today?"

"No idea what's going on today!"

There was a knock on the door. Newt poked his head in. His eyes went wide and mouth dropped.

"Dang Love you clean up."

"You saying I wasn't nice before?" Emily raised her eyebrows and placed a hand on her hip.

Newt smirked, leaned on the door frame, "I'm sayin' that you don't look like a buggen' sweaty hot bloody mess."

"Excuse me, but hot sweaty and ready to knock someone out is a great look."

"I don't buggen' doubt it, I've seen first hand how calm cool and collected Minho goes to a puddle of bloody jelly. But, Em, you look lovely."

Emily's cheeks felt warm.

"Thanks Newt." She came over to hug him. "Thanks for taking my schedule at that welcome assembly."

"Love, you somehow managed to get the bloody football guys, the most popular sought after guys to hang out with us, the book worms. I also owe you for Tommy. It was all your buggen' idea."

The doorbell rang interrupting them.

"I got it." Newt said already going down the hall.

Sonya pulled her into the bathroom one last time, did a quick once over.

"Stop fussing." Emily said.

Sonya rolled her eyes but took her hand and pulled her into the hall. Emily could hear the guys talking and Emily instantly felt nervous and excited, all the butterflies exploded, and her heart skipped a beat. She clung to the railing as she came down the stairs. Minho stopped mid sentence and watched her come closer, his jaw hitting the ground. Newt was leaning against the wall with a I told you so face.

"Shuck Em! You look amazing!"

Emily smiled shyly at him. He just gazed at her, his eyes roving all over, hungerly taking in every detail.

"Stop tryna eat her with your eyes, and kiss the girl already, just don't mess up the lipstick!" Sonya rolled eyes and gave Emily a little push.

Minho didn't need to be told twice, he reached for her hips and pulled her close, sliding his hands to her back. Emily wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You don't have to bend down so far when I wear heels."

"You're right, easier on the back."

"Harder on my feet."

He snigger, and finally kissed her gently. All Emily's worried disappeared, she melted into him. He pulled back and smirked at her.

"Happy Birthday Babe. Ready for all the things? Let's ditch these shuckfaces."

Emily beamed. Minho grabbed her hand and together they left.

"Have her back by curfew!" Newt called after them. "make smart choices!"

"Shuck you Mama Newt! Imma rebel and I do what I want! All the birthday shenanigans!" Minho called back as he opened Emily's door.

Newt had a lopsided smile and rolled his eyes. Minho winked at Emily.

"First," he said climbing in, "this belongs to you." From the back seat he pulled out a big bouquet of bright cheerful flowers.

Emily gasped, it was the happiest bunch of flowers and she loved it, it made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"Minho! These are beautiful!"

"Made me think of you! Okay, and this is also for you!" He handed her her favorite coffee from her favorite place.

"Minho! Seriously! This is so cute! Why are you so cute!?" She looked at him, just blown away from how sweet and thoughtful he was. He gave her a lopsided smirk.

"Only the best for my girl." He pulled out of the driveway, "So before we go for birthday supper, at 6, I wanna take you somewhere special. We'll two places actually."

"More?"

"It's your birthday! Of course more!"

While they drove Minho slid his hand onto her thigh, just below the hem of her dress. Her skin broke out in goosebumps and her stomach flip flopped. It was quiet in the truck, but it was a quiet calm comfortable silence. Minho kept glancing at her, like he just couldn't keep his eyes off her. She wiggled closer and her hand onto his leg, he looked at her sharply, but with such a smug smirk Emily blushed and had to look away.

"So what did you do with Sonya last night? And this morning? Did you get your nails done today or yesterday?"

"You noticed?"

"Of shucken course I noticed! I notice everything about you!"

Emily raised an eyebrow.

"First thing I noticed first day of school, was your big wide beautiful brown eyes, behind your glasses, that grey sweater you wore had slid off your shoulder just enough that I had to rip my eyes away, also those combat boots are shucken awesome! I noticed that you shrink into yourself like your trying to protect yourself, when you start to panic or something triggers you. I notice that when your nervous you bite your lip, and you twist the sleeve of your shirt, when you study or deep in thought you chew the lids of your pens and you hum or play with your necklace. When you get into the zone in the gym you have a cute cocky smirk, when you sleep you make cute little whimper noises, when you're getting agitated and your wearing my hoodie you pull it up and smell it."

Emily was blown away by how much he really did notice. She opened her mouth a few times, but nothing came out. She felt so inadequate, how did this young man find her in the huge crowd of people he could have picked from. She just sat and stared at him for a moment, still too stunned to process everything.

"Emmy? You okay?" He asked, squeezing her knee gently.

She shook her head, "I just can't believe that your a real person and picked me of all people."

Minho grinned from ear to ear, his eyes forming little half moons and his dimples appeared.

"Okay, here!" He announced.

Emily looked around and tears instantly formed in her eyes, "Minho!" She whispered.

He hopped out and went to the back of the truck and pulled out a blanket and a small cooler, and came to her door, she was too stunned to move. He opened her door and gently pulled her out, he had a small smile on his face.

"You told me that you would have a picnic here with Jorge. I called and asked if he would be okay with me taking you instead."

Emily's tears threatened to fall, she waved a hand, trying to fan her face. "Shuck sakes, Imma cry off all Sonya's hard work." Her voice caught in her throat. Minho just smiled and pulled her closer with one hand, she looked up with her glassy eyes.

"This is so sweet and thoughtful." She whispered.

"Can't break traditions, just change it slightly. Hope I'm an okay substitute."

"It's acceptable."

He kissed her quickly and then she led him to her parents head stones, he laid the blanket out and they sat down, he pulled out fancy cupcakes and drinks.

"Happy 17th Birthday Emily Victoria Fitz."

Emily had a happy cry stuck in her chest. All she could do was smile, and watch the boy who was slowly mending her heart. He got her talking about all the stories she could remember about her dad. He suddenly got up and pulled her to her feet.

"Wanna dance?"

"There's no music."

"So?" He shrugged, "Your parents can dance beside us."

He pulled her close, his hand on her back, took her hand in his, she lay her hand on his chest, he started to sway and slowly spin them in a circle. Emily's hear couldn't possibly be more full then it was right then. She lay her head gently on his shoulder, and he lay his head on top of hers. They danced to no music for a while, just enjoying the quiet and each other.

"Hey." Minho whispered into her hair.

She hummed in response.

"Would your dad be really mad if I kissed you? 'Cause I really want to kiss you."

"I'm sure he'll get over it if not." She whispered back, opening her eyes.

"Emily..."

It was so quiet, a mix of a sigh of contentment and a moan of longing; it was full of care and love. It was just her name, but when he said her name it made her body shiver and she felt another crack in her heart mend. She didn't care where she lived, didn't care who her next guardian was, the chaos in her life, she found her home. Minho's arms, his voice, looking into his dark brown eyes she was home, finally home safe and sound.

She picked her head off his shoulder, both his hands held her face, Emily slid hers around his waist. He slowly pulled her close, but paused, his breath fanned her face. He just looked at her, he looked at her with such a tended gentleness, like she was the most fragile beloved thing in the whole world. He ran his nose along hers, his forehead pressed into hers. He tipped her head up and closed the distance between them. She sighed deeply into the kiss. She felt his chest rumble. He pulled her closer, a hand sliding to the back of her neck. He kissed her slowly and gently, he kissed her like it was their first kiss. It was cautious, and curious, but also kind of needy and sure of himself. He kissed her, pulling her closer, his hand wrapped from beside her ear to the nap of her neck; his thumb gently brushing the skin on her jaw bone. He kissed her like he was drowning, but it wasn't aggressive. He kissed her until a moan escaped her, her hands clenched the sweater he was wearing and her knees felt weak and her heart forgot how to work.

He pulled away and he took all her breath with him, she gasped, she couldn't open her eyes for a second. Her whole world had disappeared, her head was spinning, there was a blush rising from her chest up her neck to her cheeks.

"Minho..."

Was all that was audible from her, she couldn't form words or a sentence after that kiss. She couldn't think of anything else. Emily's lips felt tingly. Her eyes fluttered open finally. Minho was looking at her, there was no amusement, no mischievousness. He was looking at her like he just discovered what love was.

~*~

Emily wasn't his first kiss. Far from it, Minho had kissed his fair share of girls. But this kiss...this one was different. This one mattered. This kiss, this girl in his arms right now, made him realize he didn't want to kiss anyone else. Sure they were young, still in high school, but that didn't matter to him. This kiss, it made him realize, made him understand that she was the one he wanted to kiss forever. His lips belonged to her. His heart, soul mind and body belonged to her. Minho willingly gave her everything.