The rest of the holiday was amazing, despite that run in with Ben. It was full of food and laughter, and late nights. She was kept so busy over the two and a half weeks of holidays she didn't have time to stress about school. There were also so many people in the house now that Minho and her didn't have a lot of alone time.

The last night before school after they had said good bye to his grandparents, Aunt Uncle and cousins at the airport, and supper was cleaned up, Jorge had gone to his basement suite and Emily finally lay on her bed enjoying the quiet and reading over her biology notes. There was a knock on her door. She smiled, knowing who it was already.

"It's open, Thunder Cat."

Minho poked his head in. "I have tea for my princess."

"Ahh. My knight in shining armour!" She smiled and picked her head up off the pillow. He made a big show about bowing and placing the tea on the bedside table. He leaned over her and kissed her forehead gently.

"I missed you." He murmured softly.

She hummed and put her notes down and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him down.

"It was a fun holiday. I haven't had a Christmas like that since before sad was sick and even then, I never had cousins or grandparents."

He smiled down at her. He snuggled his face into her neck and exhaled heavily. She ran a hand up and down his back, just enjoying having him close again. She closed her eyes and felt the tension leaving her muscles. They were quiet and still for a long time, Emily ran her fingers up and down his back and through his hair.

"Em?" He asked quietly.

She hummed sleepily in response, her eyes still closed.

"I have...I have a question but...uhh...oh
shuck." he grumbled.

And finally shifted so he was laying beside her and propped his head up on his hand.
She shifted her head so she could see him. She could see his cheeks flushing slightly pink.

"What's your question Thunder Cat?"

"Have you..." He cleared his throat. "Have you thought about...the fundraiser night? And what happened after?"

His normally calm and steady eyes looked nervous. Her cheeks instantly heated up and she started chewing her lip.

"Yes." She whispered.

"You're still okay with what happened? With what we did?"

"Yes Minho. We both agreed. We...we weren't probably prepared for what was gunna happen..." She trailed off.

"Yeah, and I'm sorry. I should have thought ahead. But also...I don't want to just assume something is going to lead to sex, ya know?! I don't want you thinking that's all I'm expecting...or wanting. But what if it happens again, we get carried away? We haven't done anything like that since- well 'cause this how was full of shucken people.. and it's not like hey I'm prepared now so let's get to it. But like..I am...but... umm ya." He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "Uhh...shuck, Em I'm rambling and don't even know what I'm saying or thinking at this point."

"I called a doctor last week." She said quietly, as she sat up too, and shifted so she was cross legged and facing him.

"What? Why? Are you okay?"

"Ya, Min, I'm fine. I umm.. talked to Sonya and I called her doctor and made an apt for next week to talk about birth control options."

He opened and closed his mouth a few times. "Oh."

"Yeah...it's more than just because of that. It'll help keep everything regulated which helps with training too. So..." She felt her face burning.

"Are you sure? Cuz...again Em, I don't want you feeling uncomfortable with this and how far we choose to go, or what happens in our relationship. And I don't want you feeling like you have to! I'm not pressuring you in anyway! And I'm sorry if that's what it's coming across as and I-"

"Minho!" Emily interrupt. "I'm okay with this. I've done my reasurch, and I'm more then okay. I had actually asked Ava a while ago if she would make me an appointment, but she waved me off and said she wasn't going to pay for a doctor."

Minho opened his mouth to argue.

"No Min, this is my choice. And like I said, it will also make training schedules and matches easier."

"Okay." He finally said, "why didn't you tell me though?"

"I...I didn't know how. What am I gonna say? Passing you in the hall with your cousins around, 'Oh by the way, I'm going on birth control, so if we get carried away and things led there were safe.' I...I'm sorry." She looked away feeling embarrassed and nervous.

"No. Em I'm sorry. You're right, this is your body and your choice." He gently tilted her face to look back at him. "And I know you would never just jump into something without considering all the options and doing thuro reasurch."

"Are you mocking me, Thunder Cat?" She asked, a look of playful shock on her face.

"No! Not at all!" He smirked at her, and pulled her even closer. He gently rubbed his nose on hers. "You know I love you!"

"Ya. I know, Min."

He gently kissed her. She exhaled again and melted into him. His arms tightened around her. He pulled her back down, so she was laying on his chest he buried a hand into her hair Emily snuggled her face into her chest and she fell asleep within a few minutes. It had been a very busy Christmas break.

~*~

The next few weeks in January she was kept so busy with school and the huge biology project and training and trying desperately to come up with something to do for Minho's birthday. He was turning 18 and she had no idea what to do.

She lay on the bleachers during one of his practices with Sonya and Newt. She had thrown an arm over her face and was groaning.

"I still don't know what to do!" She whinned.

"Girl stop stressing! He'd be fine with you in pjs in the kitchen making pizza or something!" Sonya rolled her eyes.

"It's true. His love launguage is quality time. So just spend the bloody day with him. He doesn't need the big grand gestures. That's his thing." Newt agreed, looking up from his book.

"But it seems so....lame compared to what he did for me!" She pointed out, finally removing her arm from her face and sitting up. Bear shifted and moved his head into her lap. She ansentmindedly ran a hand over his head.

"It's not lame to him." Sonya said, she shifted and grabbed Emily's shoulders and turned her. "Alright Love, I'm going to be honest with ya. Minho is richer than anyone in this buggen' school. He can buy whatever he wants whenever he wants. So the gifts and big things don't mean much...he loves doing those big wild things for you because the wicked witch has made it her goal in life to keep that from you. What our rich super star hasn't had, is a girl who likes him for him. So...spend the day and make him feel loved, spend time doing things he loves. You're a smart cookie, I'm sure you can come up with something."

"Ya. Ya your right." Emily sighed.

"Ya. I know." Sonya smirked.

Emily spent the remainder of the practice think of what she could do.

~*~

The month had been busy, but it didn't go by unnoticed that Ava, Teresa and Ben had been quiet, especially after what Ben did in the gym. Emily expected after the fundraiser ball there would have been bigger backlash. And after Minho and Jin and Kaito threatened Ben he would want revenge. Ava was not one to be pushed aside and ignored, or made a fool of. And with Minho's grandfather bring her employment under review, Emily expected more then the regular muttered insults and notes in her locker. She knew Ben and Teresa were watching her constantly. But Emily was never alone. Minho had made it his mission to never leave Emily unattended. Someone, weather it was him or someone from their trusted group of friends was always with her. Emily had also started taking her spares in Miss Mary's class. That way she wasn't alone in the library or somewhere else. And she got her homework done, leaving more time for planning Minho's birthday and training.

She had done her best at getting a birthday planned, with the help of a few people she was as ready as she was ever going to be. It has been a long day at school. A big math test and chemistry test, the cheerleaders had been on her asking her for tips on how to keep a grown man satisfied, all in all Friday had been a long day. She had got home changed into her PJ shorts and a tank top, taken her make up off. She had started ELA homework, but gave up relatively quickly and decided to start supper for her and Minho. Mama and Papa Lee said they would be home late, there was some work dinner he had to be at.

Emily cranked her music again and tried to get out of her head. She didn't hear the door open or close. When she turned she saw Minho leaning on the table his arms and ankles crossed, he had dumped his football bag and was watching her with a look she couldn't quite detect, but it made her cheeks heat up.

"You gonna watch or you gonna come join?" She called over the music.

His eyes lit up and he smirked. He pushed off the table and slid into the kitchen, he spun her closer kissed her forehead and then stepped away, "lemme change and I'll be right back."

He bolted down the hall, a few minutes later he was back, in sweat pants and a tight white shirt. He slid on his sock feet into the kitchen with an air guitar solo making Emily laugh.

"Okay, what are we making?" He asked, stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Tacos and margaritas!" She grinned at him over her shoulders.

He raised an eyebrow.

"And by margaritas I mean slushies."

He chuckled and leaned down, kissing her neck. "Deal!"

She shivered with his lips caressed her skin and his warm breath tickled her neck. He smirked and did it again, but a little more aggressively. She let a small gasp out and swatted him.

"Stop! I'm trying to make supper!" She scolded.

He stuck a lip out and pouted. She rolled her eyes and continued making supper while the music was blasting. Minho kept sliding up behind her and kissing the back of her neck. Her heart was beating faster and she had to keep biting her lip to keep from gasping. She tried to focus on supper but he was persistent. Every time she stopped to stir the taco meat or cut some veggies he slid up behind her, sliding his hands onto her hips and pulling her backwards into him or wrapping his arms around her waist under the hem of her tank top.

A few times she clamped her eyes closed and focus on her breathing. He kept at the back of her neck and shoulders while her stomach was doing wild somersaults and she was getting flustered.

"Min! Stop!" She whinned, "stop distracting me! I have a knife and I'm gonna chop a finger off!"

"Oh? I'm distracting you, am I?" He growled in her ear. His lips tickled her ear and her knees just about gave out. Her head flopped back into his chest. And her eyes fluttered closed.

"Yes!" She answered.

"I can distract you even more..." He growled again, leaving a line of kisses along the side of her neck. Her body shivered and she swallowed hard.

"...supper.." she managed to squeak.

"Fine..." He whispered, his lips by her ear, "super first. Distractions later." He kissed her neck one last time and then he pulled away and continued to make super like he didn't just get her all hot and bothered. He did have a knowing smirk on his face though and it drove Emily crazy, because now she couldn't get him out of her head.

He turned the music down, and they sat at the table with tacos and slushies.

"How was practice?"

He shrugged. "Championship is coming up, looks like it might be an away game. Depends on who wins these next few games and who makes it to semi finals."

"That's a lot of watch and wait."

"Always is. And Ben was being a real slinthead."

"Isn't he always?" Emily asked.

Minho snickered, "I don't understand why coach just doesn't kick him off. He's not healthy for the team."

She shrugged.

"It's not like he contributes that much anyways."

Emily nodded in agreement. Minho put his drink down and looked at her for a second, "how was that chemistry test?"

Emily groaned and banged her head on the table.

"That good huh?"

"It was hard! And I feel like I didn't study enough for it!"

"Em! You have been going non stop! It feels like I've hardly seen you since Christmas! And we live in the same house! Between trying to study and the gym you're gonna crash and burn!"

"It'll slow down after the match. I asked Jo for a bit of a breather after this one. These two matches so close, especially with school.. it's too much!"

Minho nodded.

"And your birthday is tomorrow, Super Star! I have been busy..." She gave him a mischievous smile.

He pointed a finger at her, "Emily Victoria Fitz! What have you been planning?" Minho asked raising an eyebrow.

She batted her eyelashes, "nothing. Absolutely nothing!"

He narrowed his eyes, but couldn't keep a straight face and he broke out into a smile. "As long as I can spend it with you, it'll be great."

"What? Your 18 tomorrow, your an offici adult! Don't you wanna go...gambling and drinking and get a tattoo..." She frowned for a second, "what else can adults do...?"

He shrugged, "no idea. But no. All those things sounds terrible. Well...maybe a tattoo, but nah. The whole party until your waisted on your 18th birthday is over rated."

Emily smiled. "I'm sure we can think of something."

Minho narrowed his eyes suspiciously. And Emily smiled and giggled. She got up from the table with her empty plate and cup. And sashaed into the kitchen with a wink.

"Oh no you don't! You don't get to be all cute and mysterious!" He got up and chased after her, she had placed her dishes in the dishwasher as Minho grabbed her around the waist making her shriek and giggle.

"You do not get to do those things!" He repeated. Emily tried wiggling free, but he had attacked her neck again making her squirm and shriek and laugh.

"Minho!" She gasped between laughter.

He had his hands clamped over her waist and she squirmed even more, laughing even harder. He howled with laughter, as he left big wet slobbery kisses over her neck.

"Minho! It tickles! Ahhhh!"

He spun her around and then both stumbled, before Emily slammed into the wall, Minho wrapped an arm around her and his other caught the wall, and braced them. They both stopped laughing, but continued to breath hard, she looked up at him as he gazed down into her eyes. Their breath mixed together, but Emily's had got stuck. Her lungs forgot how to work. Minho's eyes had gotten darker in an instant.

"Em..." He whispered.

Her hands had fistfuls of his shirt, and his hand was splayed on her back. She felt his hand slid to her hip and then under the hem of her shirt. His thumb running gently over her skin. Her fists unclenched and I'd up to the back of his neck and into his hair. She pulled his head down and pushed up on her toes. He kissed her back instantly, hungerly, desperately wanting more.

Both hands were now on her hips, pulling her closer yet he pushed her into the wall with his body. She was very aware of his body contact with hers. His hands slid higher under her shirt. She pulled her hands from his hair and dragged them down his back and then making him break their kiss with a gasp as she slid them slowly and cautiously along his belt line to the front.

"Shuck...." He moaned, burying his face into her neck. He took his one hand out from her shirt at her hip and went to her shoulder and slowly pulled the strap down, kissing her soft skin as he went. His hand trailed along the now falling neckline of her shirt, caressing the skin of her exposed chest. She tipped her head back against the wall with a small whimper as he did it again.

She could feel his body shiver and his chest rumble when her finger tips slid back and forth at his pant line. He was breathing hard and growling Emily was whimpering and her chest was heaving, she had a wild burning feeling in her stomach and her body was sparking with electricity. She didn't want it to stop.

"Emily...?" He managed to croak, his fingers kept caressing her cleavage.

"Yes....Minho... please...please don't stop..." She whimpered, her eyes fluttered open. She looked up into his dark and intense eyes.

"You...your sure?"

"You'll stop if I ask?" She panted, her voice hardly a whisper.

"Yes." He answered without hesitation, despite how needy and full of desire his eyes were.

"Then yes."