Okay, here's part 2 :)

Wrigley Field Parking Lot
Chicago
10:15 PM
Friday
September 19th

Ben's POV:
He and Zoe waved and drove off towards the hotel. I took her hand and we walked after them. And then went the opposite way. We wandered around aimlessly and talked about anything and everything.

Just like always.

But now was different.

It was special.

More so than usual.

The streets were pretty empty and glowing yellowy orange from the streetlights.

It was beautiful and I couldn't help but notice it wasn't the only thing.

Erica's hair was shining in the moonlight with that cubs baseball cap I gave her years before. She practically glowed. She was wearing some ripped jeans with a green and blue tie dye sweatshirt and my jacket.

She looked over and realized I was staring at her. She waved her hand in front of my face.

"Hellooo? Earth to Ben? What are you looking at me like that for?"

"You're so beautiful." I whispered.

She blushed and smiled before looking away.

We went back to talking when someone jumped out at us. Two more came up behind us.

"Money now."

The first guy grabbed Erica and held her with his arm around her neck.

"Woah! Hey, leave her alone man! Here!" I pulled my wallet out.

The first guy grabbed Erica and held a switchblade to her throat, with the crook of his elbow pressed against her neck to keep her from getting away.

My anger boiled. I took a deep breath.

"You should not have done that." I growled.

He laughed.

"Oh yeah? And why is that?" He sneered as he moved the blade closer.

That was it. I'd had enough. And I attacked. I dove at him, stole his switchblade, and in his confusion Erica got free. He got up, mad as ever, and walked to his friends.

"Erica. Get behind me. Now."

She stood behind me and I cracked my neck and knuckles.

He dove at me.

I dodged him and shoved him to the ground. He tried to sweep my legs but I knew it was coming and jumped over it. He scrambled to get up. He punched me in the face so I kicked him in the stomach and he doubled back over and fell to the ground again. The other two guys charged. I swept one's feet out from under him and he fell. I punched the other in the face hard and I'm pretty sure I broke his nose. It was bleeding like crazy and he let out a small whimper. The first guy finally got back up and I kicked his chest again before punching him in the face twice. The second ran at me and I took the first and shoved him into him. They collapsed onto each other. I punched both of them one last time and they stayed down. The third guy's eyes widened and he ran. I chased after him and kicked the back of his leg, causing him to fall. I grabbed him and dragged him to the others and threw him against them. One last kick to the face and they were all groaning in pain.

"That's why dumbass. Nobody threatens her." I pointed to Erica. "Nobody. Am I clear?"

They gulped and nodded quietly.

"Get up and you won't wake up. Ever. Do you understand me?" I snarled.

They all nodded again and didn't move.

I called the cops and they said they were on their way.

I rushed to Erica. She was standing there wide-eyed and mouth open.

"H-how'd you... do that?"

I brushed my hands on my pants to get some of the blood off.

"Not sure. Are you okay?"

I put my hands on her arms and looked her over. She seemed fine. I looked at her neck. There was a little bruising from his arm but she was otherwise okay.

"I think so. And I should be asking you that, shouldn't I?"

"Huh? Why?"

"You took them out, but one of 'em punched you in the face."

"I know. What about it?" I asked curiously.

"You don't feel it?" She questioned.

"Adrenaline." I shrugged. "Wait, feel what?"

"Your nose is bleeding and so is your bottom lip. His ring probably split it a little."

I instinctively put my hand to my face and saw that my nose and lip were indeed bleeding.

"Huh. I didn't even notice it."

She pointed at my shirt and then the sidewalk. Blood was on both.

"Though to be fair, that's not necessarily yours."

I laughed and nodded.

"But how'd you do that? You were like a whirl of kicks and punches."

"I... don't know."

"How do you not know?"

"I don't know."

"You ever take self defense classes?"

"Nope. Never."

"Then how on Earth did you do that?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Well he put his arm around my neck and you started to get mad. He mocked you and moved the knife thing closer to me. And you attacked. Was that... for me?"

"Yeah. I think so. I saw how scared you looked and instinct took over I guess."

"But what instinct?"

"To protect you at all costs." I shrugged.

She put her arms around my neck slowly and hugged me. She kissed my cheek

"Thanks Ben."

"Any time."

We were still close so I kissed her gently.

"Wanna head back after the cops get here?" I asked.

"Yeah. I think I've had enough excitement for tonight."

"You sure?" I smirked, then added. "No more near death experiences tonight?"

"Or ever." She laughed.

"Fair enough. Shall we?" I offered my arm once again. She took it and grinned.

"We shall."

We started walking to a nearby bench to wait for the cops when I realized I was kinda dizzy. I shook my head and the world came back into focus.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just starting to feel it now that the adrenaline's wearing off."

"We should get you cleaned up. Call Mike."

"It's not far."

"Call Mike." She said again, but it was clear it was not a suggestion.

"Yes ma'am."

"Hey dude. Need a lift?"

"Kinda yeah. We got jumped."

"What! Are you guys okay?" 

"Yeah I took them out. I'll send you a picture."

I heard him look at the text I sent of the thug pile and my face.

"Woah! Dang dude what happened?"  He gasped.

"I'll- explain later. Cops are on the way to pick them up. But I got a bloody nose and slightly split lip. Erica told me to call you."

"Okay. I'll be right there."

"Thanks man."

"You got it."

Few minutes later some cops showed up and put them in the back of their car.

"What the hell happened here?" One laughed.

"They told me to give them my money, but by the time I'd grabbed my wallet, they had her. They held this switchblade to her throat and I kinda lost it. I attacked and beat the crap out of them."

"You sure did." The other smiled.

"Thanks. And here." I handed him the knife.

"Good job young man."

I smiled and nodded as he walked away and Mike pulled up.

We got in and he handed me an ice pack and washcloth he'd grabbed on the way out.

I told him the story as he took us to the hotel.

Erica came with me to help me clean off and Mike headed off to go tell Zoe what happened.

"You really did a number on them."

"Thanks." 

"But that hit of his did one on you too." She laughed.

"Gee, thanks."

"I'm just saying, you went so hard on offense and didn't even try on defense."

"Because I didn't care what they did to me."

"Why?"

"Because I was way more worried about what they'd do to you."

"Why?"

"Because you're my everything. You mean the world to me. And I love you."

"Really?" She asked softly.

"Really." I affirmed.

"You know you're quite good at it."

"Fighting? Thanks." I grinned.

"Romance dummy." She rolled her eyes.

"Huh?"

"You're very romantic. It takes you a while to get the courage to ask a girl you like out. But once you do, you're very romantic and sweet."

"Thanks."

She dabbed my lip with the washcloth again.

"There." She said triumphantly.

I looked in the mirror and my face was all blood-free except for the cut on my lip.

"Thanks Erica."

"No problem. You know you look really good like this."

"How so? Wait, like what?"

"Well usually you're more cute and cuddly and sweet. But like this you look like that but tough and fierce at the same time. Like 'I may be cute an cuddly, but I can still kick your ass if you try me' type thing. Looks good on you."

"Thanks." I smiled. "Well, I'm gonna take a shower and get changed for bed. But I'll see you tomorrow?"

She nodded.

"See you tomorrow dummy."

"I save you, but I'm still a dummy?"

"Yep. As awesome as tonight was, you were a clueless dummy for 4 years. This doesn't overrule all four years."

"Alright, fair enough. But someday I'll eventually do enough to overrule it. Sleep well."

"You too." She smiled.

I opened the connecting door to the two rooms for her and hugged her. She looked up at me so I kissed her gently. She left for Zoe and her room next door and I went to take a shower.

Okay, there's also a part three but I'm pretty sure that it is the last part :)