“What” Snapping a little more.
    “Relax” Pushing her into his chest, he now new why she was so worried. Her fists were clenched as she pushed her face into his chest, he could feel her shaking though he didn’t no if it was anger or fear.

    “I’m worried” She whined.
    “Why?” Van asked, folding the paper back up. Her head sprung up, looking pissed.
    “Because their good, and I don’t want you two to get hurt” The tightening in their chest wasn’t familiar, they hadn’t had anyone worry about them during a fight. Their family never watched or asked about how things were, so they never bothered to say anything about it.
    “Is that what this is about” Van asked, swiping a tear off her cheek.
    “NO” She growled, pushing her face back into Owen.

    “Maybe” It was muffled but, Owen could feel it. Van sighed tapping his brother, who pushed her back a little. She tried to hide her face, using her hair as a shield. Tucking it behind her ear, she still refused to look at them.
    “Well be fine. You taught us well” Picking her chin up. Her bottom lip was sucked into her mouth, as her eyes glazed over.
    “You two better not fuck this up, I can’t handle two broken fighters” Pouting the whole sentence.

Van smirked thinking of something cleaver to get her with, his brother just standing their keeping a close eye on her.
    “But who will give us our sponge bath then?” Mocking. Her eyes rolled, before her witty personality came back.   
    “You can do each other” Racking her hair.
    “What’s the fun in that” Testing her a little more.
    “I’ll buy you a pair of rubber duckies” Folding her arms. Owen looked to Van who started laughing, which turned into all three laughing. She was better now the color was glowing on her, as well was the smile they loved so much. They hated seeing her sad, but it was nice to know she was worried about them.

For the next several hours she worked with her other fighters, getting them ready and off. Jerry did very good, for an older guy. Along with her other fighter, she looked tired but refused to go back to the room. Owen was feeling uneasy about her on those damn heels, they had to be killing her feet. And he swore he saw her shifting her weight more and more.

Van noticed after a few seconds that Owen was gone, he didn’t even say where he was going. It wasn’t like him to leave his side, never the less Riae. He’d been the one who was over protective of her, it wasn’t till he returned with a pair of sneakers that Van understood. Owen walked over to Riae, taking her hand in his pulling her away from the group of people. Not caring what they thought, his baby was in those damn heels long enough.

    “Owen” As he dropped her cute butt into a metal chair. Sticking the shoes out to her, looking else where. When she didn’t take them right away, he shook them in her face.
    “You went to get me my shoes?” Taking them in both hands. He grunted feeling a little bit uncomfortable. Turning an eye to her, he held back the smile as she seemed to be so relieved. Damn woman should of just asked, he would get her whatever she wanted.

    “Thank you Owen” Taking her heels off, replacing them with the sneakers.
    “Yea” Grunting it out. Grabbing his hand before he could walk away, Riae kissed his cheek making the heat on his face noticeable. Leaving her heels, he quickly scooped them us. Holding them as his hands folding around his waist.
    “Smooth” Van hummed, without looking at his brother. Owen grumbled but smirked a little.


A few more hours passed and Nero came back, grinning all the while. They were going to be fighting soon, and they had noticed Riae was looking a little pale. Owen had already brought her heels back to the room, what he should of done was drag her along. They were worried she’d get overly nervous and feel the need to be sick again, that was the last thing she needed right now.

    “Guys?” She called, making them move quickly to her side.
    “Yes?” Van asked, praying she would at least sit for a while.
    “Can…” She bit her lip.
    “What is it?”
    “Can we go to the lobby, I’m really hungry” Her feet shifted like she was asking for something they could or wouldn’t give her. Why was she so afraid to ask for help, or things from them.
    “Of course” But Owen had already taken her hand, pulling her to the elevator. Sitting her down she sighed in relief.
    “What do you want?” Owen asked, handing her a menu.
    “Just a coffee”

    “No you need to eat” He growled, pushing the menu back.
    “But what if I…” She blushed thinking about yesterday,.
    “You wont, I wont let you” Pointing to the menu for her to order. She rolled her eyes, which was something Van was thinking of doing. He really thought he was going to stop her from throwing up, who was this guy and where was his brother Owen.
    “Caesar salad” She replied, handing the menu back.
    “That it?” Eyeing her.

    “And a lemon water” Nodding he walked off, leaving Van with her.
    “You okay?” He asked, placing his hand on hers.
    “Yea, just tired.” At that exact moment she yawned. Damn he wished she’d of slept in this morning, maybe then she wouldn’t be so stressed out. Owen returned with a salad and glass of water, with a slice of lemon.
    “Thank you” picking up her folk. Taking a seat next to her, they sat patiently.
    “Aren’t you two eating?”

    “Their cooking it” Owen replied.
    “Oh, I’ll wait then” Putting her folk down.
    “No, eat” Frowning at her.
    “But that’s rude, besides I don’t mind waiting.” Her stomach growled, and Owen’s frown deepened.
    “Eat before he’s face stays like that please” Van asked, making her smile.
    “Alright” Owen relaxed as she picked the folk back up.

Riae bandaged their hands and feet, handing them a mouth guard as they were waiting to be called. She was twitching something fierce, as Van slung an arm over her shoulder. It calmed her dramatically, as Owen winked her way. Blowing him a kiss, he felt hotter. He was up against Romero Rodriguez, a well known fighter around the local five touching states.

Owen had watched the man fight before, he had extremely powerful kicks. And a back hand that could knock a head off a person, without even batting his thick black lashes. He was thankful Riae made him warm up, she was also giving him pointers on how to skillfully take the man down without getting points taken off his ranking.

The bell rang out as people cheered, but he was listening for Riae as she yelled out to him. Giving him cues on what he needed to do, or reminding him of things he might of forgotten in the heat of it all. Swinging his arm out, catching Romero off. The gel Riae put on Owen’s face was working wonderfully, as it shed a punch to the face. She screamed at him, and he knew she was going to rip him apart for that one.

Shaking it off, his fists started flying. Causing the larger man to step away inevitably backing him into the corner, where Owen made magic happen. Her voice sounding like music to the beat of his punches, a knee up to her yell and a few more blows before the ref blew the whistle. Back in his corner, Riae was already there waiting for him.
    “What the hell was that?” She snapped giving him a drink.

Maybe she was going to ream him now………

    “Kick his ass Owen, or no blow job” Kissing his cheek. Which had flushed off all color, damn her. Why’d she have to put dirty thoughts into his head, specially in a time like this. A sly grin formed, looking even creepier with the purple mouth guard she had given him. Romero looked a little worried, as he stepped to the side of him. Why wasn’t he tossing a few punches, did Owen really look that scary. Shrugging it off going at Romero, the two locked pushing around the ring. Riae yelled at him, and his knee came up clipping the mans chest.

Moving out of his kicks, Owen stepped back into the line of fire as he wanted to punch him down. He refused not to get his reward for the fight, not even thinking of the money. He wanted Riae, her lip, touch, taste, feel all over him. That was a reward in its self, and none of these men except his brother would know anything as wonderful as her.

Tightening his right arm, it retracted upper cutting Romero knocking him backwards. His left tightened giving him another, before his right was sent right behind it. Stepping away he watched as the mans eyes rolled to the back of his head, falling face first to the mat. Her screams of praise were all he heard, as his hand was lifted into the air. Flashes made him blink, and the sweat on his brow was heavy.

Exiting the ring, her soft hands cupped his face like yesterday. Nodding at him, she told him to go sit. Smiling at the ice cold blue Gatorade, his hands shook. An open bag of pretzels look very appealing, as he munched on them as his brother climbed into the ring. Tapping fists with a man name, Tony Hernandez Van waited for the bell.

It sang letting the two well built fighters start their deadly dance, Van knew all about Tony. He was fast and precise on when and where to hit, letting him corner Van wasn’t an option. He’d be destroyed in the corner. Keeping his feet moving, just like Riae had drilled them on countless times. Tony sent out the first of many kicks, trying to frighten Van into back up. Instead he moved or ducked out of the way, before countering the mans attacks.

To fear being hit, means you will never be a really fighter. Because real fighters get hit, they get broken and they even bleed. But the luck few are victorious, as they rise to top. Van was already at the top, maybe not the fight ring top but he was at the top when he had Riae at his side. She was his heaven, his sanity and with her he didn’t fear god himself. A blow shook from his arm, as it connected into Tony’s face.

Using the man’s own method against him, Van pushed Tony deeper into the corner. Powerful blow after blow, shook the ring shaking the ropes. Upper and lower cuts, flew from his body taking Tony’s air away. When the ref blew the whistle, Van stepped back. Riae smiling for him, as his heart felt lighter then air. Giving him a drink and a kiss, her words again gave him something to think about.

    “Kick his ass Van, and you’ll be grinning wider tonight” Kissing his cheek, when the bell rang. Pumped to get this fight over with, his body stepped into the circle. Tony ready for more, as he tried to get a few kicks. Only Van had been expecting that, as his hand grabbed the mans leg, pushing it down before rocketing a punch to the side. Hitting his kidney was something Van didn’t like to do, but he had better things to do then fight this pain in the ass.

Tony spit out a little, as his coach yelled at him. Grinning he mentally laughed she was right, he was grinning. Damn that woman was clever. Had she planned for him to look like a happy fool, hopping around in a ring smiling the whole time. It proved to work somehow as Tony was now giving him the, ‘what the hell is wrong with you’ look. Laughing more he was having way to much fun, as the large man charged him. Stepping to the side, his knee coming up and into his stomach.