Logan is watching it all with a wildly beating heart. And where he expected to feel pain or to be shaken up, the opposite is happening. He is so damn proud of this woman, the love of his life. He will push himself to the limit, to make her sacrifice worth it.

Duane will be scared to death in this last part of the second round. Logan sends all his raging emotions to his fists and stands up straight.

Scorpia is carried out of the ring on a stretcher and he puts his fist on his heart, whispering softly: "For Bonnie."

He steps forward and slams his gloves against Duane's, who looks at him with sadness in his eyes.

"Oh hell no. I don't need your pity dude. And she certainly doesn't. Bring it!"

Duane has no clue what to expect from his opponent and there wasn't a lot of footage of him available to learn more either. But the fire burning in the eyes of the man in front of him worries him, because he has lost a lot of energy and strength during the first half of this fight.

He loosens his neck and decides to go full force right away. He wants this fight to be over.

That was a dumb move and Logan grins at the big boxer in front of him. He sees the annoyance and impatience in Duane's stance and flies up to him and works him into the ropes with a series of punches.

They get pulled apart and Logan is already in position before Duane has come to his senses. Logan repeats the same sequence of punches again and smells the turning point.

Bruno yells: "Take a hit!"

Logan thinks of Scorpia and decides to try her move. He just hopes that he doesn't get knocked out right away.

He looks Duane straight in the eye and drops his defense. Duane looks shocked but still uses the opening to punch Logan right on the eye. Logan's knees buckle and he closes his eyes, imagining Scorpia there looking at him.

He pulls his arm back, punches Duane in his armpit, in the ribs on both sides, followed by an uppercut against his chin. The big, strong man falls backward on the floor and Logan doesn't hear a thing.

He stares at the man on the ground, staying down till the last count, in the middle of a deafening silence. He watches Duane get carried off and suddenly Logan's feet lose touch with the floor.

Bruno and Ricardo lift him on their shoulders and a smirk appears on Logan's face. The sounds around him slowly seep in and he smells sweat... blood... her blood... Bonnie! He whips his head towards Bruno, who tries to calm him down with his gaze but that doesn't work at all.

He has to go to her, has to see her. Ricardo and Bruno put him down and Logan looks at them with a wild expression on his face. 

Bruno puts his hands on Logan's shoulders and says: "Relax bro. You're not announced as the winner yet, and they will want you to say something. Because you're the only one left standing. After that, you'll eat something and go to the hospital. I'm going to find out where they took her right now, okay?"

Logan takes a deep breath and nods. He walks over to the referee, who pulls Logan's arm up to declare him the winner of the fight.

The referee gets a microphone handed to him and clears his throat, "That was the best match ever. A worthy fight to end my career with. The real champion is the one who left the ring first."

Loud cheers and clapping emerge from the crowd surrounding the ring and Logan gets handed the microphone. He closes his eyes and breathes out slowly.

"She believed in it from the very first second she heard about this fight. And I believed it along with her because I know better than to defy her. She can do anything she sets her mind to. She is so incredibly strong, physically, but most of all mentally. When you think she's beaten down, she'll find hope, love, and strength to go on. This victory is hers. I would have never won this fight without her. It would have been KO in the first round."

He searches for the Scorpions in the crowd and says: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a..."

At least half of the people there yell: "Scorpion!"

He grins, takes a bow, climbs out of the ring, and walks towards the locker room.

He sinks down on the bench in there and loosens his gloves to take them off. He is sitting with his head in his hands when Bruno walks in.

Bruno gives him a bag of ice and says: "Hold this on your eye, bro. We don't want to scare my sister with that face. And you've got two choices. Energy bar or drink?"

Logan mumbles, "Drink." Bruno pulls one from his bag and twists the cap off. He hands it to Logan, who accepts it with his right hand and Bruno swears.

"Dannazione, Logan! We didn't wrap your hand!"

Logan shrugs and downs the energy drink, "Bruno? How in the hell do you manage to stay this calm? Where is she?"

Logan gets up and puts his sweatpants and hoodie back on, sliding his feet into his sneakers while shooting Bruno a questioning look. 

Bruno puts his hand on his heart and Logan growls.

"Fuck you! Where?"

Bruno keeps his gaze on Logan and doesn't say a word. Logan sits back down and holds the ice on his eye. He breathes out slowly and tries to relax.

"Scorpia is in a hospital, about fifteen minutes from here. She's awake. She woke up on the way there and swore the EMT to hell. She wanted to go back. When I spoke to the head nurse on the phone, I could hear my sister in the background. She is pissed, Logan."

Bruno laughs, "They think she might have a minor concussion and they know for sure that her cheekbone is broken. Her jaw was dislocated but they put it back in place without sedation."

Logan asks angrily: "Why the hell did they do that without sedation?"

"Because she didn't want those damn drugs in her system." Bruno chuckles. "Are you sure you want to go to her, bro? She has a few broken or bruised ribs, doesn't matter which, cause it hurts either way and there's no internal bleeding.

Logan shakes his head, "I'm going there now. You guys better honor her in the coming fights."

Bruno nods, "Please keep me posted, I will regularly check my phone."

Logan gets up and walks out of the locker room. Several people try to congratulate him but he only wants one thing. He gets frustrated by the crowd he has to wade through when his eyes land on Flavio.

The crowd clears a path for the don and he says: "Follow me, Logan. I will get you outside."

Logan whispers a thank you and Flavio turns around to walk in front of him, his ice cold aura making people step aside. As soon as they reach the exit, Flavio whispers: "Go and find that superwoman."

Logan laughs and sprints towards the jeep. He gets in and follows the signs guiding him to the hospital. He rushes inside as soon as he arrives and makes his way over to the ER.

He hears her voice already and follows the sound to find her.

When he runs into the room he finds her sitting up in the bed and Duane on a chair next to her. Scorpia looks at him with eyes full of stars, "Well done, my handsome Scot." 

He kisses her carefully, afraid of hurting her and she says: "Well, that was a disappointing celebratory kiss. You need to do that again and better."

Logan chuckles and kisses her deep and slow. He wraps his arms around her neck and she tugs at his hair. "Mmm Logannnn. That was a lot better."

Logan sits on the stool next to the bed and studies her face. It looks horrible but her eyes... Her eyes are stunning. Calm, dark ponds full of love, mixed with a little excitement.

He looks at Duane, who asks: "How do you recognize the toughest boxer?" Logan raises his eyebrow and Duane says: "She comes to in the ambulance, instead of the hospital."

He taps Scorpia's fist with his and she smiles, cringing a little at the impact.

They talk about the fight and Duane says: "This was a unique experience, I've never had an opponent like Scorpia. She used everything against me. And not just to distract me, she also fights like a man. I'm grateful for my skin-tone because you can't see the damage she did from the outside. But fuck if I don't feel it. I rarely get punched this hard and often."

Scorpia pulls the sheet down and lifts her shirt to reveal the rainbow of colors on her skin. Duane swallows a lump down and turns his gaze away.

Scorpia smiles, "Pretty, right? Maybe you should sign it, Duane."

Duane shakes his head and Logan laughs. Logan exchanges a look with Duane and feels his phone vibrate. He looks at the screen and says: "Yes! All our juniors have made it to the finals."

Scorpia says: "That means they're fighting against each other."

She pushes the red button attached to her bed and throws the sheet off. A nurse comes running and as soon as she sees it's Scorpia who pressed the button, a sigh slips out.

"I'm leaving. Do I have to sign something?"

The nurse shakes her head and Scorpia says: "Yeah, yeah. Against the advice of the medical professionals blablabla. Have a nice day!"

She swings her legs over the edge of the bed and stands up. She holds her breath for a few seconds and Logan helps her into her shoes.

Duane gets up, "Can I hitch a ride with you? Because I don't know what my manager is doing but that asshole didn't even call me."

Scorpia wraps her arm around Logan's waist and nods at her free side. Duane gets the hint and stands next to her. She wraps her other arm around his waist and they walk out of the hospital together. Scorpia sits in the middle when they get into the jeep and leans against Duane, who wraps his arm around her and says: "Lean into me. I'll hold you steady so Logan can drive safely."

Logan drives back to the sports center and they walk in side by side. They generate rumors and people turn their heads, but Scorpia takes confident strides towards the ring. Ricardo is already in the ring, getting ready for his fight, but it's clear to her that he's way too tense.

She moves closer and yells: "Hey Hulk! You better win this!"

He whips his head her way and drops to his knees. He bends down till his forehead touches the mat, kissing both gloves as he sits up. He smiles, stands up, and Bruno hands him his mouth guard, slapping his shoulders.

Ricardo, Bart, and Dino reach the finals of their classes too and they celebrate their wins in the locker room, with Duane present, who enjoys the atmosphere and friendship they all have for each other. And he starts to understand how special Scorpia is, judging by the deep respect everyone has for her.

Pizza gets delivered and they eat together, talking about all of the matches. Scorpia is sitting next to Logan, leaning against him. He knows she's dead-tired and in serious pain but also knows she doesn't want to miss any of this.

She looks at all of the men around her, her eyes landing on Dino, who is still in trance and she can't help but admire his focus.

The rest of the afternoon goes by in a haze. The young boys manage to claim, first, second and third place. The first place for Roy being the biggest surprise. That boy grew with every match, the fire burning in his veins and bringing him further than he thought possible.

Ricardo makes it to third place and Dino second. And while he cools off in the locker room, Bart's final is about to start.

He is sitting on his stool in the corner and calls Scorpia over to him. Logan supports her and she holds herself up with her hands on the mat.

Bart kneels in front of her and says: "This once's for you boss. For you alone. But you have to promise me one thing. As soon as my opponent hits the floor, you go home. Okay? Because you've done enough. Thank you, Scorpia." He kisses her forehead and gets up.

Bruno helps Bart with his mouth guard and he slams his fists together. He looks at his adversary in a relaxed but focused way. He is going to win this. Everybody knows. He knows.

His opponent hits the floor within three minutes. The entire crowd yells: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a scorpion!"

The second Bart wins, Scorpia faints, and Logan catches her. He swears and Bart runs towards the ropes, calling for Bruno. "Bruno, go! Take her with you! We'll be fine!"

Flavio and Ciro rush over and Dino comes running from the locker room in the corner. It's like they could all sense that Scorpia needs help.

Flavio clears the way and Logan walks out of the building as fast as possible. Bruno takes Scorpia from him and Logan grabs the keys. He unlocks the car and Bruno lays her down on the backseat, while Logan runs to the other side to sit next to her in the back, lifting her head to rest it on his lap.

Bruno gets behind the wheel and looks at his brothers and Flavio.

Dino yells: "Sorellina! Fucking proud of you!"

Ciro and Flavio yell: "Ti amo, Scorpia!"

Bruno asks them to take care of the boys and to take their stuff back with them, starts the car, and drives off.

(...)

They drive back in silence, Scorpia not waking up once during those two hours. Logan's heart gets heavier every minute her eyes stay closed. He strokes her hair and tries to stay strong, to have faith. Faith in her and in their love.

They arrive at the cafe and Logan lifts her from the car. Bruno runs ahead of him to open the doors and Logan carries her upstairs.

He carefully lays her down on the bed and Bruno says: "I'll be right back. I'm going to get the doctor."

Logan takes her shoes off and pulls the hair tie from her hair. He tucks her in lovingly and tries to reach her with his mind. He hopes the reason her eyes are staying closed has to do with the pain and tension in her body and not with the thing he fears the most.

She looks really calm and relaxed but even when she's sleeping soundly at night, he gets scared her eyes won't open again. He sits down on the edge of the bed, encasing her hand with his. He stares at his swollen right hand and suddenly Bruno's words sink in. Maybe he should put some ice on it.

He hears footsteps on the stairs and the doctor runs into the bedroom, making Logan get up to give him room. Bruno walks in, holding an ice-pack, handing it to Logan without a word. Logan wraps it around his hand and nods at Bruno, both holding their breath till the doctor is done with his examination.

They all leave the bedroom when the doctor gets up. Logan closes the door behind him and all three of the men sit down on the couch.

The doctor looks straight at Logan and says: "Don't worry. She's not in the shadows. I'm sure of that."

Logan breathes out, a tear rolling down his cheek. The doctor rubs his back, "But I would prefer admitting her, hook her up to an IV, give her something for the pain..."

Bruno and Logan are about to protest but the doctor raises his hand. "But I've gotten to know her a little and I know she would never go for that. I know the hospital and meds are things she's not fond of. So, if you would give me a few minutes, I'll try and come up with an alternative."

(...)

He writes a few prescriptions and hands them to Logan. "Anti-inflammatory pills, paracetamol, and an ointment for the bruises. Lots of fluids and rest. The less she walks the better. Keep her in bed as much as possible. I'll come back to check on her in a few days. Good luck!"

He shoots them an all-knowing look because keeping her in bed is going to be hell as soon as she's awake. "If there's anything at all, call me. I'm available to her night and day. I'll let myself out. May luck be on your side."

The doctor goes downstairs and Logan bursts out in tears. Bruno wraps his arms around him, "As much as I understand her love for boxing, I can't deal with this either. If she gets hurt, I die. Thank God she's very good. But today was rough. Way too rough."

Logan sobs and looks at Bruno with heartbreak in his eyes.

"I felt one with her today. She was so strong, tough, beautiful. Like a goddess, she stood there until she went down. I'm still so damn proud of her but at the same time, my heart bleeds. I was so scared, Bruno. I can't lose her, I can't live without her. I don't want to be without her. I know I should be strong for her but that's really hard when your heart breaks."

He growls and punches the back of the couch.

Bruno looks him in the eye, "She's never going to stop boxing. All we can do is support her, love her, and set her free. And that's damn difficult. My heart breaks every time she gets hurt. But as soon as she smiles at me or I watch her with Enzo my heart gets glued back together. She is strong in battle and love. As long as I have her in my life, I'll be happy. She makes everything better."

He nods at Logan, "Thank you. For your love for her. For the fact that her pain is yours. Because based on that, her happiness will be yours too. Thank you. For Leo. For seeing her for who she really is. For the engagement. And even for... waking up inside of her."

They laugh and the mood is lighter. Bruno's thundering laughter carries through the walls into the bedroom and Scorpia smiles softly from the bed.

Bruno gets up, "I'll go and get the meds. Give me the prescriptions. You stay with my sister, you're the only one who's good enough, bro." Bruno pats Logan on the shoulder, who gets up too.

He walks into the bedroom and looks at his Bonnie. He takes his shoes and clothes off and slides into bed with her. She turns around to him and kisses his tattoo.

"Bonnie."

"Handsome Scot.", she lets out a bit hoarse.

"Fuck, Bonnie. Why didn't you tell me you were awake? Bonnie..."

She snuggles up to him, whispering: "Ouch. Because I literally just woke up. I heard Bruno's earthquake inducing laughter."

She chuckles and Logan chuckles along with her. "Logan?"

"Yes?"

"We really need a wash. We stink."

Logan laughs, "The doctor says you have to stay in bed as much as possible, Bonnie. I can get a washcloth..."

"No way! I want a bath. With lots of bubbles."

Logan laughs at her Enzo impression, "Do you think I could carry you without it hurting too much?"

She nods, "I think so. But even if it does hurt, we need a bath. I'm not going to lay here stinking like this."

She sits up slowly and pulls a face. "Maybe I should take two paracetamol before we try that."

She tries to breathe and to ignore that her entire body hurts. She hears someone come upstairs and Bruno walks in with a big grin on his face.

"Sorellina! Doctor Bruno is here! With a bag full of pills and creams." He laughs and hands her the bag.

She checks the contents while Bruno walks into the bathroom to fill a glass with water. He comes back and she takes two painkillers and an anti-inflammatory pill. She puts the cream down on the bedside table and shoots Logan a begging look.

Bruno clears his throat, "You can't even wait till I'm gone? My God!"

Scorpia laughs, pain written all over her face, and Logan says: "She wants a bath. With lots of bubbles."

Bruno laughs, "I think it's better if I keep that fact from Enzo. And Leo."

Scorpia gasps and a tear makes its way down her cheek, quickly followed by a few more.

Bruno wipes them away and whispers, "Boxing is fun. A lot of fun. But when you look like you do and you have to face your little man..."

Logan gently hugs her and she says, "Let's pray he won't think you did this to me."

Bruno shoots them a questioning look and Logan explains how Leo saw the video of their fight on the tournament. And how Leo responded to it.

Bruno says: "Ha! Already a fully-fledged member of this family. Mommy above all. Mommy's are supposed to be loved. Unconditionally. And everyone who doesn't should be punished. But to be honest, seeing mommy is going to scare him. Because there's no way you can hide that face. Remember how Enzo cried when he saw me after my last match?"

Scorpia nods. "God yes. And you're a man and he knew you were boxing before that. Any tips for facing Leo?"

"You have to stay in bed anyway, so keep it dark in here. Cover your bruises as much as possible but don't lie about it. He is small but I'm sure he will get it. Let it happen, don't worry too much about it."

Bruno laughs, "Listen to me, father of the year."

Scorpia says: "If the spot wasn't already taken, it would be yours. You come in on a close second, fratello."

Bruno kisses her, "I'm off to mamma's. Sharing heroic stories about auntie Scorpia and hugging the entire petting zoo. If we don't hear from you, we'll stay away. Worry about yourself first, okay? We'll be fine, even with Leo. I'll bring him to you the second you're ready."

He gets up and walks towards the door.

Scorpia's voice cracks, "Bruno? Grazie. Grazie mille. Ti amo."

He looks over his shoulder, winks, and walks downstairs. 

⊱ ────── {⋅.♏︎.⋅} ────── ⊰

I'm so so sorry for leaving you with the cliffhanger in the previous chapter for that long.
But writer's block is real and it was kicking my ass.
But I've made it. A new chapter.
I hope you feel it was worth the wait. <3

XO Hankie