Minho brought her home in the truck. She was exhausted and feeling antisocial and miserable. The truck ride was quiet.

"Emmy, you know you did amazing. And I'm proud of you!" He said quietly, reaching for her hand.

"I got my ass handed to me the first round. And that shouldn't have happened. I'm better then that. I trained for this! I've won more then her, and my stays are better yet...if I hadn't knocked her out I would have lost. So no. I didn't do amazing."

Minho suddenly pulled off the road and parked. Emily frowned in confusion.

"Minho? What-"

"Shush." He turned towards her, his face was set, jaw clenched and his eyes were intense. "Emily Fitz, you listen. And you listen closely." He started, a finger pointed at her. "Sports are hit and miss. Literally. Sometimes you hit and get a homerun. Sometimes you slid into home as the catch and tag you. Sometimes you win by a kick in sometimes you're up by 3
Four touch downs!"

Emily pursed her lips. "Your lucky I understand sports."

"But you get my point. You were off. And that was my fault. And I feel so shucken terrible. I don't know how I'll ever be able to make up for that. Those stitches are my fault, those possibly cracked ribs are also my fault. I take full responsibility for your distraction. And I'm really sorry! And yet... somehow you pulled through all that and won. A win is a win. The scouts saw you were down by two and still pulled through and won. They saw a fighter, a scrapy little thing who won't give up!"

"Ben was there. Same with Ava and Tess."

"Wait...what?"

Emily sighed, taking her glasses off she rubbed her sore and tired eyes before putting them on again.

"Ya. I saw Ben just before the bell rang for round one."

"Was that what made you freeze? You looked like a deer in headlights."

Emily groaned and nodded. Minho swore. Emily agreed. Minho slammed his hand into the steering wheel. They still couldn't find the truck that stalked her. It still would randomly be parked in the lot wherever she was, but there was no driver and still no license plate, nothing to identify it. She knew it was connected to Ava, but there was no hard proof.

"There's nothing we can do, they didn't do anything other then mess with my head." Emily sighed in defeat.

"Well...come on, let's go home. You need a shower and I need to make up on the snuggles." Minho pulled back into the street.

When they got home everyone was there. Emily shrunk back. She was not in a people mood. Jin and Kaito were beside themselves in excitement acting out and replaying everything. Only a few people clued into her unease. Minho tried to keep everyone quiet, but they were too wound up. Sonya, Newt, Thomas and Gally got it, when Emily sunk to the back kitchen again.

"Hey, want us to kick them all out?"

Emily picked her head up, she was holding her cup clutched in her hands so tightly her knuckles were white. She came face to face with Gally.

"It's...it hasn't been a good few days..."

"Ya, Sonya told me. I'm sorry Em. If you ever need someone to acouumpany you anywhere, let me know K. Your not just my girlfriend's best friend, your also my friend."

"Thanks Gally." She gave him a tight smile.

"Also, don't mind slamming my fist into Ben's stupid face."

"Same."

Gally chuckled. "He's an ass. And most of us want him gone. And it's hard to believe..." Gally sighed and leaned on the counted beside her, so they were standing beside each other, staring at the cupboards, the party behind them.

"What's hard to believe?" Emily encouraged.

"I understand bullies. And abusive homes."

"I'm sorry Gally."

He shrugged. "My dad was...my mom left with me and my younger brother. We lived with my grandma for a while, and then mom got remaried, Dan is a good guy, makes mom happy and actual is a father figure."

"That's awesome Gal. I'm glad your safe now. And it worked out for you." Emily smiled at him.

"Girl, that black eye is gonna be epic." Gally chuckled and shook her head. "How do you take a hit like that and keep going? Damn girl. Some guys need to learn to take a hit like that."

"Adrenaline. I don't really feel it until later." She gingerly touched her cheek and winced. "Like now. My head is sore and my ribs are burning."

"You gotta reach me how to do that combination, kick punch kick. You knocked her around like a rag doll!"

Emily chuckled softly and winced, holding her ribs.

"Okay. Time to shoe people out." Gally nodded and pushed off the counter. "Take care of yourself. We'll see you later."

"Thanks Gal."

Emily watched Gally slide up to Sonya in the livingroom and whispered something. She nodded and then went to Newt who glanced up at Emily and then back to Sonya. Minho showed up in front of her.

"Come on baby. Their leaving. I trust them to leave and Job and Kaito know where their rooms are. Come on. Shower and bed." He took her hands and gently tugged her down the hall, everyone was so busy cleaning up and getting ready to leave, they didn't notice Emily and Minho disappearing.

Minho sent her to the shower with the promise of snuggles later. Emily took her time. Her body was sore, and now moving hurt. She wrapped herself with a towel and gingerly left the bathroom. Minho was sitting on the bed with Bark and looked up, his face went pink. She grabbed her pj shirts and with much cursing managed to pull them on, under her towel.

"Em...? I can leave, if you want." He started to get up.

"Wait...Minho..." Minho froze and looked up, his eyes wide in surprise, maybe. He swallowed. "I-I actually need help." She mumbled, her own face going pink.

"Oh. Ya. Ya sure. What can I help with?"

"My ribs really hurt. I think their more then bruised. But...I can't movet arm much without wanting to die."

"Got it." He nodded and got up. With a smirk he pulled his t shirt off.

"Wait..what? Minho, what are you doing?"

"You need a t shirt that's big on you. And you need mine." He smirked at her, walking closer, his t shirt held in his hand. She felt her heart flutter. Minho stopped right in front of her. He gently tugged the t shirt over her head. Emily got one arm in and then winced when she moved her other one.

"I can help." He whispered.

"Please."

He gently tugged the towel away. His dark eyes darkened. His eyes trailed down but then his eyes went wide and he winced.

"Shuck. I think we need to take you and get those ribs x rayed." He looked down at her ribs again, gently running his finger tips over her bruised ribs and then looked up at her with concern. Despite how tired and sore she was her stomach twisted with butterflies. She felt her cheeks get hot.

"Emily..."

"Minho...I-I can't...I can't really do anything." She gulped. His eyes had darkened a bit more.

"I know. Come on, bed time." His voice sounds a little rough, but he was sweet, and didn't try anything. He gently helped her into bed and then tucked her in.

"Do...do you want me to stay? Or leave?" He asked hesitantly.

"Stay. Please."

He lay down beside her and gingerly snuggled closer. Bark curled up at the end of the bed and they all went to sleep.

~•~

The next day Jorge took her to the clinic and got her ribs looked at a bit closer. She did not have any cracks, just major bruising, which she was glad it was just bruised, but it hurt almost worse then the time she did crack them. She was told to rest and take it easy. Jorge messaged Jo and let him know, training was put on hold until she was cleared by the doctor again.

Spring break was quiet. Emily stayed home, letting her ribs and head get better. Minho and her put the last finishing touches on their business project. Emily was getting ready for the big Biology project and the next few weeks they were going to WICKED to do some practicum work. Jin and Kaito went with Jorge to the gym a few times, lots of hanging out around the fire pit.

Minho dropped his cousins off at the airport, grandpa was staying for a nother week, his meetings weren't going as well as he planned. They took the truck having all of the guys stuff. Jin and Kaito chatted the whole time. Minho pulled up and Emily hopped out to say goodbye.

Jin pulled her into a tight hug. "Emily. I'm so sorry. We caused you a lot of anxiety and strife and I'm really sorry. Can you find it inside to forgive me?"

"I already have Jin. Just promise me you won't ever get behind the wheel after drinking again."

"Never. Again. Thanks Emily."

Kaito was waiting for his turn and pulled her into another hug.

"Bye Em. Keep him out of trouble."

"Always."

"Sorry we were bad influences."

"Just be smart. Use that Lee brain."

"Yes ma'am."

Minho came around the truck and gave his cousins a hug and said goodbye. He placed an arm around Emily and they watched Jin and Kaito.

"Wanna go home and then take me for a ride?"

Minho looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. "You still wanna ride?"

"Yeah. Cheeseburgers and a sunset ride?"

"I love you so much Emily Victoria Fitz!"

Emily smiled up at him. He leaned down and kissed her.

~•~

Minho had just finished doing up her helmet and picked her up and placed her down on the back seat. As Minho did up his own helmet Emily slipped her gloves on.

"Ready my Princess?" He asked coming closer.

"Yes." She smiled. "Where do you wanna grab cheeseburgers?"

"I kinda wanted tacos."

"I love you so much more!" Emily grinned at him.

"And a stop at the bookstore?"

"Are you trying to propose right now?"

"And then a quiet ride outside the city in the hill"

"Yes. Sounds perfect."

Minho grinned and grabbed the chin of her helmet and pulled her head closer. His dark eyes hauzed down into her warm brown ones. She smiled up at him. His eyes were dark and steady and made her heart flutter.

He didn't break the eye contact and made her stomach twist and her heart flutter. She reached up and smacked his visor down. He gasped and smacked hers down. She smacked his helmet.

"Okay! Okay! I surender!"

Emily giggled as he shook his helmeted head at her. But she heard a muttered, "Bratty backpack!"

"I heard that!"

He turned to look at her and bonked his helmet against hers, in a helmet kiss. He climbed into the bike and backed out of the garage. Minho was the perfect driver, after Emily lost it on him he hadn't taken the bike out, this was the first time since that night.

They had some good music going and at each redight he would start dancing, getting Emily to dance with him, making her giggle and shake her head. But she was greatful he was comfortable being goofy and got her to loosen up. He would tap her knee when the light changed and she knew to hang out again.

Minho pulled into the parking lot of the Mexican restaurant.

"MMM tacos!" Emily hummed.

Minho chuckled at her. And helped with the strap of her helmet. They sat outside and tacos were delicious. They talked and laughed and talked about what the rest of the school year would look like and what would happen after graduation.

"Wanna walk to the book store? It's right across the street." Minho asked, pointing to the big store.

"Yes." Emily squealed. Minho took her hand and together they walked across the street and spent forever in the store. Emily broussd the books while Minho poked around for a bit and then spent the rest of the time following her around, his hands wrapped around her waist or rubbing her back, or touching her in someway. He was handsy tonight and it made her tummy flutter.

"Find a few books?" Minho chucked as she groaned looking back and forth between two books.

"I always find books! The trouble is choosing!"

"Why do you gotta choose?" Minho asked.

"Umm...'cause books are expensive." She frowned looking at the books.

"My princes wants books. My princess gets books!" He grabbed the two books from her hands and then grabbed the other one she had put back and walked to the front check out. Emily stood frozen for a second.

"Wait...what?"

"Girl. Where do I find a guy like that?"

Emily looked over and a woman in her 30's was watching Minho whistfully.

"I don't know. He found me." Emily shrugged. The woman looked at Emily for a second, her face darkening.

"Did he do that?" She whispered, her body launguage changed drastically. "Do you need help? If you need help, now is the time. He's busy."

"What?" Emily blinked at the woman confused.

"Did he hit you?"

"What?" She asked again and then remembered she had a pretty solid black eye and stitches. "Oh! No. No no no! I'm a boxer. I had a match this week. The results of most loosing to a good opponent. No, he would never ever hit me."

"Are you sure? You don't have to lie anymore. Trust me, if you need-"

"No. I do not need saving from him. He's a good man. Thank you for your concern." She thanked the woman and then ran after Minho who was already at the counter. He paid and turned to Emily, the bag of books in his hand.

"My lady." He grinned. He made her turn around and he slipped them into her backpack. She shook her head but had a huge grin. He zipped up her bag and she did a little happy dance, while Minho just chuckled at her.

"Come on, Rocky, let's go for a drive." He slid an arm over her shoulders and Emily wrapped an arm around his waist, and he guided her back across the street to the bike. He helped her due up her strap and made sure she was safely zipped into her jacket. He drove them out of the city and through the winding hills. The drive was peaceful and quiet, not many cars on the back mountain roads. There was no need to show off or speed, Minho took it slow, and enjoyed the drive and his girls arms around him.

At one point Emily tapped his shoulder and pointed. Minho slowed down and stopped. Emily hopped off and ran across the highway. There was a bunch of pretty purple and yellow wild flowers growing
She picked a handful and ran back, with another happy dance.

"Put them in the backpack?" She asked, batting her eyelashes at Minho. He looked ammused at her, but made her turn around so he could get her backpack open.

They continued on their drive. Finally, at a spot on the highway, that branched off to a lookout point Minho pulled over and parked the bike. He helped Emily off.

The view from the lookout was beautiful. The city laid out at the base of the mountain, the sun setting casting all kinds of orange and pink glows, the trees were starting to bud again.

"It's beautiful."

"Nah. My view is better."

Emily turned and saw Minho leaning on his bike, his helmet was off and he just gauzed softly at her. Emily blushed behind her helmet. She came back over and slid her backpack off.

"Help with the helmet?"

He ripped her head back and undid the strap and she pulled it off. Her hair was wild now, but Minho didn't seem to care he buried both hands into her hair and pulled her head closer.

"I love you Emily. So much."

"I love you too Minho. Thanks for being my fairy godmother."

He chuckled and kissed her gently, still cautious of her bruised body. Their kiss deepened and became hungry. His hands slowly started to travel and explore. He had her jacket unzipped and a hand under the hem of her shirt on her back. He pushed her closer, now she was pressed right into him.

While the sun set, they kissed and enjoyed the quiet before school started and play offs and practicum and presentations and exams and grad. Emily felt like she was floating on cloud nine. She couldn't believe how much her life had changed in seven months.

She had friends, a family, a future, a young man who loved her. Everything in this moment felt right.

"Wanna go home and continue this?" He whispered against her lips.

She hummed with a smile.

But like everything in her life the food things never lasted and her happy feelings were replaced by dread.

They had pulled back into the city, minding their own business, and a truck swerved onto the road, just about hitting them.

"Minho! It's the same truck!" She screamed.

~•~

Haha. And you guys thought it would be a soft and fluffy chapter.

Nope! Trauma train is always there.