Jorge was quiet the rest of the ride home, which was only about another minute. Emily was holding it together by a thread. Emily slipped into the house and dropped her stuff off in her room. She could hear the guys in the backyard. She was to angry and hurt to be with them, so she went into the kitchen and started to help Mama Lee with supper. 

"How was practice?" She asked, handing Emily some veggies to cut up. 

She shrugged. "Not great." She mumbled. 

"Well...we'll have a quiet evening and then tomorrow is the big day and it'll be over soon. You'll do amazing." 

"Thanks Mama." Emily kept her head down and her hands busy, if she wasn't white knuckling the knife her hands were shaking. 

"Can you stir this for me? I need to run upstairs." 

Emily nodded and came to the stove. Mama Lee left the kitchen. She could hear the backdoor open and the guys come in. Emily clenched her jaw. They piled into the kitchen. 

"Emmy! Where have you been?" Minho asked, coming up behind her.

"At the gym, Minho." Emily snapped. "I have a fight tomorrow." 

"Oh shoot. We were gonna go with you!" Jin groaned.

"You guys weren't exactly...functional after a reckless night." 

"What?" 

Emily slammed the wood spoon down on the stove, splashing some of the sauce. "You heard me Kaito. How's that hangover?" 

"How...how did-"

"I know?" She turned towards him. "I cleaned up the puddle of your puke." 

His face went pink and he had the humility to look down. 

"Emily. Are you alright?" Minho frowned at her. 

"No. No I'm not Minho." She could feel the burning angry tears in her eyes. She hated that she always cried when she was angry, it made her feel weaker. Her cheeks heated up and her eyes flashed in anger and hurt. Minho had the audacity to look confused.

"Then tell me." 

"You were the epidemy of stupid last night! And don't you dare lie to me! Don't try and disregard what I'm feeling!" 

"What? What are you talking about?" 

"How fast did the bike actually get to last night?" She asked, turning back to the veggies. 

"165 miles!" 

Emily just about chopped a finger off. She sucked in a sharp breath. 

"Emily! Come on, we were just goofing off, and we were fine." 

"Just...just goofing off?" She whispered. Jin was shaking his head sharply. Kaito looked horrified now. Jin grabbed his brothers arm and pulled him from the kitchen. 

"Don't you two go anywhere." Emily hissed. She was so angry, she somehow had the courage to boss these huge guys around. They sheepishly sunk down into the kitchen chairs. "I saw Kaito's social. And don't pretend you haven't seen it. I know you thrive on attention Minho. And goofing off on a machine that could cause death.... very mature of all of you. How many drinks did you actually have?" 

"I dunno." Jin answered honestly. 

"You don't know. And yet." Her voice was shaking as bad as her hands. Tears slipt passed her lashes. Minho reached out to wipe t hem away. She stepped back and smacked his hand away. 

"Don't Minho." She whispered. "Don't. You come home at 330 in the morning, not letting me know you were okay. Then I can smell the alcohol and you lied about it. And then I see what you were doing on social media." 

"Emily no one was hurt! Come on. It wasn't that bad!" 

"Minho, are you gaslighting me?" Her voice was hardly above a breath. She saw him flinch, and Minho opened his mouth a few times. But he clamped it closed and looked away. 

"Em, come on, don't be so hard on him. He needed some birthday drinks and to blow off some steam. Plus he's an adult now!" Jin tried. 

She rounded on him now. "Sure, have the drinks. I don't care! BUT CALL A DAMN RIDE HOME JIN!" She finally yelled. 

"We were fine! We'll not Kaito..." 

"Ya, and the guy who drove 'just fine' that night my mom was leaving work...I never saw her again. My dad stayed up all night waiting for her. She never got home. And wanna know what the other driver said? Wanna know Jin? Minho? Did I ever tell you? He told my dad and the court he was just fine. It was only a couple drinks. He had a few drinks with his buddies, got behind the wheel and killed my mother. So yes, Minho, go goof off. Go blow off some steam, Jin...then tell the cops at the scene of the crash, the paramedics, the now single father and infant child you weren't that bad. And I saw you Minho, I saw how fast  you were going without you proper gear. One skid of the tire, one rock on the road and your eating it, and the paramedics are peeling what's left of you off the road. You're last words, Minho, 'I was fine I was just goofing off.'" 

"Emily..." Minho started. 

"Don't." She screamed, "Don't even try. I don't care if you drink, Minho. But you better call a damn ride home. 'Cause what you did last night is the reason I don't have a mother, and I was left with an abusive step mother and why I'm so fucked up. Grow up." 

She pushed past Minho with tears streaming down her face and out of the kitchen. 

"She's right. You were stupid." Papa Lee growled from the entrance. He stood straight and tall, his powerful arms crossed over his chest, a look of fury and disappointment on his face. 

"I know." Minho mumbled, "I didn't think-"

"Clearly you didn't think." 

"Uncle Ki, it was our dumb idea." Kaito spoke for the first time.

"Sure. But my son acted on that idea. I had hoped he was smart enough to know the difference between fun and reckless. Maybe the bike was too much for you, clearly I underestimated you decision making skills." 

Minho's face was red and he couldn't meet his fathers demanding eyes. 

"And now, instead of relaxing and getting ready for her fight tomorrow, she's scolding you three idiots, the night before her fight. You kept her up all night, and then weren't there for her today- when she needs you more then ever. And I doubt she'll want to be around you three right now." 

∽•∽

Emily lay curled up on her bed, she had sobbed finally, letting everything out. Mama Lee had come later and brought her supper. She struggled to eat, her stomach felt sick. All the what if scenarios kept running through her head. There was a knock on the door and she ignored it. Not wanting to talk to Minho right now. When the door opened she felt a flash of anger. 

"I don't wanna talk to you Minho." 

"Good thing I'm not that buggen' shuck face." 

Emily turned and sat up, "Sonya?" 

"Hey Love. Jorge called, I'm crashing for the night." She walked in and dumped her stuff. "P.J's right now. Then we'll snuggle into bed, watch a movie and you need sleep." 

"Sonya..." Emily chocked. 

"Emily...I know." Sonya said quietly, she gave Emily a small sad smile of understanding. 

"What if I lost him last night." She whimpered, and then the damn broke again. Sonya rushed over and sat down beside her, pulling her into a tight hug. Sonya held her stroking her hair, while Emily cried. 

"He lived. No one was hurt, his guardian angels were working overtime. He was given a second chance." She paused. Minho had stopped in the door way on his way to his room. "Maybe now he'll think before he does something like this again." 

"Sonya! All I can think about is him crashing and then he's gone! Just like my mom. Just like my dad. I'd be left alone. Again!" 

"Shhh, Em, Love. You're not alone. You wont be alone again. You have Jorge and Mr and Mrs Lee, you have Newt and me, my mom and dad love you, they wont let you go back to the Paige's. And what about Alby? And Gally, Thomas, Jeff, Clint, Fry? You have friends Love. You also have Bear." 

Sonya glanced at the door again, where Minho stood frozen, he looked like he was ready to cry himself. Sonya looked back at Emily. 

"You wanna talk to him?" She asked Emily quietly. 

Emily sat up and looked at the doorway. Her face darkened and clamped her jaw, and narrowed her eyes. She shook her head. 

"No, not right now Sonya. I can't right now." 

Emily turned away, her back to the door. She got up and went to the bathroom. She heard Sonya and Minho talking quietly. But she washed her face and brushed her teeth. Emily was pale and exhausted. She knew she needed sleep, but she had no idea how she was going to get to sleep, awful crashes involving Minho and his broken bike and body were constantly playing in her head. When she came back out, Minho was gone and Sonya had the door closed and she had changed into pjs. Emily climbed into bed, despite how busy her mind she was asleep within a few minutes. She felt okay now that Sonya was here, she didn't have the same calming effect as Minho and his hugs and sleeping on his chest, but she was too hurt with him right now. 

∽•∽

Emily sat nervously, her leg bouncing as Jorge wrapped her hands. 

"Millie girl, breath." 

"Its hard." 

"I know. But if you pass out now your no good to anyone." 

Jo came over with her gloves, "Did you sleep better last night?" 

Emily nodded. She woke up once with a nightmare, Sonya had to wake her up, she woke up screaming, her nightmare was Minho dying in a blazing fire and bike crash. When he came running into the room Sonya had her already wrapped up tightly, shushing her and rocking her gently. He had stood awkwardly watching, not sure if he should come closer or not. Emily had fallen back asleep and slept the rest of the night. 

"Okay, kid, just like the practices. We worked hard for this one. Win or loose, show them what your made of." Jo nodded. 

"Hey squirt!" Alby poked his head into the room, a huge grin on his face. He sauntered into the room. Emily hopped up and slammed into him. He laughed at her. "You're gonna do awesome!" 

A lady poked her head in and called her to the ring. Alby patted her back. Jo and Jorge followed, falling into step beside Alby. Emily tried to keep her head on the match. She knew what was at stake. But she was so distracted and felt so out of sorts right now. Trying to keep her anxiety down, she focused on her breathing. Slowly through her nose and out her mouth. The medic came over and made sure she was good, the Ref did a quick once over. The crowd was loud tonight. It was sold out, a full evening of fights, a few bigger names were happening later, including Alby. (He insisted on being here for Emily first- which she was grateful for.) She could see her group of people. The Isaac's were there, Gally and Thomas, Jeff and Clint, Fry was there with Rachel, all the Lee's. Kaito and Jin had made big signs, which made her roll her eyes. 

The medic and ref gave her the okay, and she climbed into the ring to wild applause. Her opponent was already here, waiting. She was the same height as Emily, she had been fighting longer then Emily, but she hadn't won as many. Emily was hoping for a quick win. Jo and Jorge and Alby went to her corner and shouted a few more last minute instructions. 

"Fighter!" The ref called. Emily and the other girl came to the middle of the ring. "I want a clean and fare fight. Keep your heads up, not dirty hits. You know the rules, touch gloves." Emily held her gloves out, the other fighter, looked at her and walked away, back to her corner. Emily shook her head and went to her corner. 

The ref threw his arm out and pointed at the other corner, "Red Corner! Are you ready?" The girl nodded, glaring at Emily. "Black corner?" He threw his other hand out towards Emily,  "Are you ready?" Emily nodded. As she did, she caught sight of someone that threw her already spinning mind into chaos. 

The ref threw his hands up "FIGHT!" 

Before Emily could register what the ref said the other girl was swinging at her. She couldn't get her mind working. Why was Ben here. Of all places, he was the match. A black hat pulled low, but she recognized him. If he wanted to rattle her, he did. She felt a fist to her jaw. Her head snapped to the right. Pain exploded through her jaw.

Emily threw her fists up, shaking her head. She had to get back in this. But her eyes kept flicking to Ben. And everytime she felt a fist connect to her body. The bell rang calling the break. Emily collapsed onto the stool.

"What the hell is going on?" Jo cried.

She turned to Jorge. "Ben's here."

"Where?"

Emily nodded, Jorge twisted and looked. And whe he did, Emily caught sight of two more people that made her blood run cold.

"So is Teresa and Ave!" Emily's head whipped around, Teresa and Ava were sitting in different sections, so any direction she looked there was someone. Emily felt the giant gym getting smaller, she was trying not to hyperventilate.

"Jorge! Why are they here?"

Jorge turned back. He held a cloth to her face, she had a nasty cut over her eye and it kept bleeding.

"Who knows. Trying to mess with you."

"It's working!" She wheezed, her gloved hand was trying to pull her top, attempting to breath easier. It wasn't working. She was gasping.

"Hey! Hey look at me." Jorge demanded. Emily turned her panicked eyes onto Jorge. The only constant thing in her miserable life. "There is nothing they can do. There's too many people. So you put those guys out of your mind and focus on this-"

She nodded just as the ref called them back and the bell rang. Emily had about a second to get her head back in the fight and forget about Ben, Teresa and Ava.

She groaned as a foot connected with her ribs. She knew she wasnt making a good impression. Grandpa Lee and the boys had come out to see her fight. And they were just watching her get beat up. She knew without a doubt she lost the first round.

She was having trouble seeing. Blood was dripping in her eye. Her chest hurt from trying to breath and not panic, and now her ribs felt like they were on fire. First round she got whooped. This second round she was trying to play catch up, or at least just staunch the flow of damage. She finally managed the last 10 seconds to land a half decent punch and a kick.

The bell run again and she stumbled over. Jorge pressed a towel to her face. Alby had her water and Jo was barking orders at her. She couldn't concentrate on what Jo was saying.

"Stop! Everyone shut up!" Emily cried, shaking her head desperately. She twisted her head. "All?" She pleaded.

"I got you squirt." He kept infront of her. "Come on girl. We're done by two. I don't know what happened in round one, but something threw ya off. Shake it off. Get back up and This fight. This moment. Squirt you fight your fight. Not theirs. So we're down by two. What do you need to do?"

"Knock out."

"Right! Good. And the best way is quick and easy. Your fast. Before that cut starts again, knock her in her ass!"

She nodded. She held her fists out. He did their quick fight ritual. And then got up. Hoping Alby's voice would cut through the extra noise.

The bell rang and this time she was ready. She was finally moving her feet, her hands up, she kept switching regular to south paw. Her opponent seemed confused now. The first two rounds she was easy pickings, this round, she came out and was ready. Emily ducked under a left hook. She spun and got her foot into the girls ribs. Emily came after her, sending a fist into the girls jaw and then as her head whipped to the side Emily had her foot ready again, and connected.

The girl dropped.

Emily glanced at the ref, who jumped in. The refs arms held out, making sure Emily didn't continue hitting her when she was down. There was a quick count and her opponent was deemed down and out. The red called it, throwing Emily's arm into the air.

~•~

Emily sat on the table as the medic stitched her cut. And assets her ribs and made sure her head was fine. She had complained of a headache. The doctor gave her the all clear. The room was empty of people other than Jorge and Jo. Emily sat feeling defeated, despite her knock out win, she knew she didn't fight well at all. Suddenly the door burst open and everyone flooded in. She was hit by an over whelming sensation when they all crowded around her. Her chest went tight and her throat felt like it was dry and sticky and she couldn't swallow. Her wild eyes darted around the room.

They landed on Jorge and the Papa Lee. Her panicked eyes begged for help. They then caught Minho. He was standing in the back by the door, his hands shoved in his pockets and his face like stone. Her eyes flicked to Papa Lee again.

"Okay. Let's take this party to our place. Come on, everyone out. Let Emily have a moment!" He called. His voice echoed around the small training room. As he left he clapped Minho on the shoulder, said something and then it was quiet in the room.

Minho slowly and very hesitantly slid further into the room. Emily sat dejected and struggling to be in control on the table. She had twitched above her eye, a solid bruise forming on her cheek, her ribs were wrapped and a pounding headache.

She watched wearily as Minho came closer and sat gingerly at the edge of a chair in front of her. He fidgeted and was silent. She wasn't going to talk first, so she sat waiting.

"Emily...I'm-I'm so sorry!"

She looked up at him. Her exhausted eyes took in his appearance. "That doesn't change what you did."

"I know." He sighed, running a hand through his hair and then down the back of his neck. "I have no excuse, no explanation. And I feel like... I feel terrible! Absolutely miserable."

"Because I'm upset or bec-"

"No. I needed that wake up call. I needed you to lay it out. I needed my dad to talk some harsh common scenes into me. I pretended I was invincible, and that wasn't...it was stupid, Emily. I can't be the reason a kid doesn't grow up without a parent...or my parents lose their son. I can't do that. Never again Em. I'm so sorry, you needed to slap reality in my face."

He looked up, tears in his own eyes. He slid off the bed and crouched in front of her. He reached for her hands, he held them tightly. "I know I got a lot of trust to make up now."

"Yeah, ya you do. I forgive you, Minho, but I don't know if I can ever forget that! Those scenarios are going to keep running through my head from now on. Every time you get on that bike and don't let me know you're safe or when you go out with friends." She whispered as a few more tears leaked over her lashes.

"I'm so sorry."

"I know Minho. I know you are."  

"And...and I'm the reason...you didn't sleep and almost lost and then...maybe costed a scholarship." She saw his own guilt and despiration. She knew deep down he felt awful and he ment every word.

"Your right."

Minho stood up and stepped closer, very slowly, like he was scared she was going to send him away. When he was right in front of her, between her knees he gently cupped her face.

"I love you. And I'm so so sorry I put you through that. It won't ever ever happen again. I promise."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

She hummed.

"Thank you Emily."

"I don't like being mad at you. It hurts to much, but don't ever ever do something stupid like that again."

"Never." He shook his head. She didn't see any playfulness or smirk, he was dead serious and she knew she could trust him. He had always kept his word before.

~•~

Minho and the bike in question.