Hey again, everyone! I'm back, with yet another chapter. Sorry, I forgot to put the disclaimer in the last chapter, not that you guys really mind. Lol-so, here you go!

Disclaimer: See Ch.1.

To my lovely reviewers:

Trufate: Thanks! I plan on it getting even better…muwah hah hah…

Withlove-anonymous: Yes, I love Marco and Dylan things, too. Aren't they just so cute?

Pass the broccolini: Yeah, I figured it wasn't really a word, but I typed it anyways. The spell check in my head must've been off, and I'm normally too lazy to get up and get a dictionary. lol

As he was walking home, Marco felt proud of himself. Craig and Ellie…hmm…they were just so darn cute together! It almost reminded him of Dylan and he. Except, Marco didn't have boobs. Good thing, too.

He saw Dylan's car pulling over to the curb. His face lit up. Dylan had a strange way of showing up when he was bored or felt alone.

'Hey you!' Dylan chimed excitedly.

'Hey…where are you going?'

'Oh, I was going to drive to your house to see if you wanted to hang out, but…'

'Sounds great to me!' Marco hopped in Dylan's black-with-red-stripes convertible.

'So, where were you walking to at this time of night?'

'I was helping Ellie pick out and outfit-did you know she and Craig finally got together?'

'Really? They are perfect for each other now that I think about it…'

'Yeah. So where are we going?'

'Hmm, I was thinking a walk through the park...is that okay with you?'

'Yeah, that's…um…fine,'

Uh-oh. Marco had a flashback. The night he got bashed walking to Dylan's hockey game.

Flashback

No….no…I'm not gay! Stop, please! Stop!

Sure you little queer…if you're not gay why don't you fight back, fag? Huh?

No, stop, I…can't…

-End of flashback-

'Are you sure? You seem a little skeptic…'

'No, Dyl, lets go. It's fine, really.'

'Okay, if you're sure.'

Dylan leaned down to kiss Marco. He knew what Marco was thinking about. He always did.

'I promise, I'll protect you. Trust me, okay?'

Marco just nodded his head nervously as he got out of the car. He didn't know what he was so worried about. Dylan could take anyone he could think of down. Dylan grabbed his hand and leaded Marco down the narrow path. It was a beautiful night. The moon was full, the stars were shining bright; it was amazing.

'You know,' Dylan said as he looked up, 'the stars are awfully bright tonight. They remind me of something…'

'What?' Marco was curious.

'Your eyes…'

Dylan looked down into Marco's deep brown eyes. It was weird how some people could look at his face and is disgusted, yet Dylan could look at it forever and smile the whole time. It was something about his smile, the way he laughed, that brought a twinkle to Dylan's eye. He leaned down to kiss the younger boy, which led to a moment of pure bliss.

After eating a wonderful dinner, Ellie and Craig decided to walk through the park also. Craig had been staring at Ellie the whole night. He had thought to himself, This is more than a crush…much more…

'I had so much fun tonight, Craig…thanks for everything,'

'Ellie, you're the one I should be thanking. You are amazing, beautiful, smart, musically talented…everything I want and need…'

'Craig…'

Craig pulled Ellie close to him and kisses her gently but passionately. The kiss lasts about a minute and a half.

'Wow,' Ellie was trying to catch her breath. She couldn't wait to tell Marco about this one, 'Craig…I-I think I…'

'Love you…me too,' Craig finished her sentence, 'So, do you want to be official, now?'

'I would love it…'

'Good. You are so beautiful, El…'

Ellie blushed. She had been called a lot of things by guys, but beautiful wasn't one of them. She knew now she and Craig were perfect for each other. Marco was right. She loved Craig.

'God, I love you,'

'I love you too,'

This lead to another long, slow, kiss. Not that either of them minded, at all. As a matter of fact, Craig liked it so much he wanted Ellie to come back home with him, especially since Joey and Angie were gone for the weekend. But he knew her, and that would freak her out, so he decided to wait.

'Why can't we stay here forever?' Craig asked, jokingly.

'I wish we could, but why can't we stay at…um…your house?' Ellie asked nervously. Craig was amazed.

'Uh. You really want to?'

'Yeah, I mean, if you do…'

'Yeah, totally-come on!'

Craig held Ellie's hand the whole way home. He couldn't stop smiling and neither could Ellie.

'I don't know why I was so worried…this is completely harmless. Especially with you…'

Marco looked up at Dylan. He didn't have to worry anymore. He had a bodyguard of a boyfriend. By now, he had forgotten completely about the bashing and was concentrated on Dylan's eyes. They were deep pools of light blue, and right now, Marco was swimming in them. (Not literally, idiot.)

'I told you, you never ever have to worry again…as long as I'm here with you,'

'I know that now,'

Dylan smiled down at Marco. He wanted his boyfriend to know that. Because, truthfully, Dylan loved Marco more than he could ever know.

'Good. Why don't we sit down?'

Dylan led Marco over to the nearest bench. They sat down together and Marco leaned against the taller blonde.

'I never thought we'd be here.'

'Be where?' Dylan asked.

'Together. Sitting on a bench, cuddling in the park...I thought Eric was your new me.'

'Marco bear, I was blind. I really was, for a day or so. Eric was just a…let's call him a thing of the past. I still don't know how I could look into those eyes and tell you I wanted to "open things up". Every time I kissed him, I saw your face. Your eyes, your lips…I saw you. I finally realized, though, he wasn't you. I love you more than you'll ever know, Marco. Really.'

Marco was speechless. He was almost in tears-he had never heard Dylan break down like this before.

'I love you, too, Dyl…always,'

Everything was so perfect. It was a perfect world. Or, at least, for now.

'Oh lookey here boys, we go a few queers on our hands…hmmm, what to do, what to do.'

Marco and Dylan both sat up immediately. Marco was filled with fear and Dylan with rage. They looked up and saw a gang of four guys.

'What do you want?'

'You fags to die. It's not too hard.'

One of the men tried to pull Dylan down to the ground but ended up getting punched in the face by him instead. Marco sat and watched in terror. What was he supposed to do?

Yet another guy headed over to Dylan and tried to take him down. Rule #1: Don't mess with Dylan Mikalchuck. The other guy quickly learned his lesson. Dylan kicked him in a place no man wants to be kicked. (Not that I would know, lol) I'll leave it at that.

One of the two guys left ran off like a little baby and the other one pulled out a knife. The blade glittered in the light of a street lamp. Marco wanted to run-he wanted to run far away so bad-but he was scared stiff. Dylan was even a little shaken, he knew he couldn't take a guy with a knife, but he didn't want to scare Marco.

'Man, drop it-drop the knife-not funny!'

'Oh, it is funny. It's hilarious, actually-'

The man started walking-not running, walking-towards Dylan. Dylan tried to grab the weapon, but he couldn't get a grip on it. His hand was cut badly and bleeding severely.

'Oh my God, Dyl!'

'Don't worry Marco, just run! I'll be okay…'

As soon as Dylan could get the words out, the man was now running towards Marco with the already bloody knife. Marco was too shocked, too scared, too terrified to move. The man plunged the knife into Marco's chest and Marco collapsed. Dylan was not only terrified, but now beyond furious.

'No! You-'

He forgot all about the knife and ran towards the man. He punched him in the face harder than he had ever hit anyone. The guy fell to the ground immediately. Dylan pulled out his phone and called 911 even before going and checking on Marco. He then ran over to the younger Italian boy and gently shook him. Marco didn't do anything. Dylan picked him up and carried him to his car where the ambulance was waiting.

'What happened?' A paramedic was putting Marco onto a stretcher and questioning Dylan.

'We were sitting on a bench and theses idiots came up and cut me and stabbed him-'

'Where did they cut you?'

'Oh, It's just my hand, but just worry about Marco right now…he needs it more than me…'

Dylan was fighting back tears. He had just gotten Marco back-he couldn't lose him yet!

'No, son, we'll have someone look at that…Joe! Get over here!' The paramedic said as he put Marco into the back of the ambulance. A tall man walked over to Dylan.

'What happened to you?'

'Uh, It's just my hand…nothing major…'

'Let me see it,' the man said as he took Dylan's hand, 'We'll need to wrap it up, but I don't see a need for stitches.'

"Okay—but what's going to happen to Marco? Where are you taking him?"

"The ER, duh. You can follow us down in your car if you want to," Dylan was surprised at the medic's rudeness, but went along with it. It wasn't the best time to judge people…

Did everyone like it? Hope so. The more reviews, the faster the next chapter goes up. Also, the more reviews decides whether MARCO LIVES! lol. I'm not that cruel...but...you'll see what happens...muwah ha ha ha!

Love, Liz