My brain is going crazy with wanting to progress this story. Like I said, this was the one I wish I never left and I'm not giving up on it this time! I hope that this story attracted some new readers as well as brought back some of the people who had this on alerts! I own Jessica, WWE owns their people, AEW theirs and TNA too! I forgot about them last chapter. Enjoy!

Jessica's POV

"PHIL!" I called out as I shot up in my bed panting. I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I regained control of my breathing.

"Another nightmare." I whispered. I felt my cheeks become wet as tears began to roll down my face. I hadn't slept peacefully since my graduation. Images of Phil beat up, dirty and bleeding have stained my brain. While I knew he was okay, and pretty much all healed up, my brain twisted the image into having me find him either dead or inches from it. No matter what I did, I couldn't shake it. I thought back to that night when he showed up.

~Flashback - Graduation Night~

"I can explain."

"Start." I aggressively said.

"Can I at least make it into the house?" He asked. I silently stepped aside.

"Where is everyone?" He asked looking around.

"Sleeping." I said curtly.

"Can we go up to your room?"

"Why?"

"It would be nice to shower and get some of the dirt and dried blood off of me." He said smirking.

"You owe me an explanation." I said crossing my arms.

"I know and you'll get it, I promise." He said softly. I headed towards the stairs and he followed me up.

Once in my room I turned the light to my on-suite bathroom on and grabbed him a towel.

"Not sure what you're going to wear." I said throwing the towel at him.

"I'll manage." He said catching it and heading towards the bathroom. I heard the water turn on loud and clear.

"You're not going to close the door?" I called into the bathroom.

"Nope!" He yelled over the water. I rolled my eyes and plopped on my bed. Phil was out much quicker than I anticipated. He came out in the same clothes, dirt gone from his face and arms. It was much easier to see the cut over his eye and the bruises forming his body.

"What happened?" I asked softly, much of my aggression fading at the sight of his injuries.

"I was saving you and your family." He said staring right at me, "I want to spare you as many details as I can, but the Carter's aren't happy about our little deal. They don't know about us getting married, only about our gangs coming together. I'd die before they find out about you." He explained. "I can't let anything happen to you." He added in barely a whisper. I said nothing, just blankly starting at him.

"I know I said I wouldn't miss your graduation for the world…" he said sitting next to me on the bed. "But without you, there is no world." My heart quickened, he really felt this way? I couldn't move nor could I speak.

"Let me officially say I'm sorry." He continued, "but I am going to make it up to you." I nodded.

"I got you a gift!" He said, mood picking up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He handed it over to me and kissed my temple as his did.

"Congratulations sweetheart." He said. I opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond necklace.

"It matches…" I said softly.

"I figured you needed a necklace to go along with your ring." He said with a lopsided smile. I don't know what came over me but I threw myself into his arms. He caught me with a bit of surprise.

"Thank you." I said into his chest.

"You're welcome, I'm glad you like it." He said hugging me back.

"Not just for the necklace, for defending my family, for doing what you have to do to protect me." I said looking up at him. He smiled down at me and kissed my forehead.

"Always."

~End of Flashback~

My tears continued to roll down my face as I thought about that night. I felt so comfortable in his arms, so safe. Far from what I was feeling now. I grabbed my phone and saw it was 3:24 in the morning. Before I could stop my fingers they were pressing the call button.

"Let him not be up." I whispered. I had never called him before, always just texted, but tonight I was desperate. In two rings he picked up.

"Jessica." He said into the phone.

"Phil…" I said crying.

"Are you crying? What happened sweetheart?" He asked much more alarmed. That was all I needed. The tears came down faster and in larger drops, my breathing quickened its pace and the hiccups hit.

"Jessie, honey, you need to calm down." He said trying to soothe me over the phone. It wasn't working.

"Do you want me to come over?" He asked, slight panic in his voice.

"Yes…please." I managed to get out.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes, open your window." With that he hung up. I pulled myself from my bed and opened my window wide. Sure enough Phil pulled up and pulled a ladder from his car. He set it up close enough to where he could grab the ledge of my window and pull up. He climbed in and grabbed me. I cried into his chest as he held me. We stayed there for a few minutes until I had calmed down.

'I don't know how I'm going to marry you…" I said softly.

"What?" He asked surprised.

"I will literally never sleep again…" I said moving to look up at him, "I saw you like that once and I'm scarred." He let out a chuckle.

"You scared me for a second." He said before continuing, "What you're telling me is that you are worrying about me, to the point of no sleep."

"Yes, what did you think I was saying?" He laughed and shook his head.

"Don't worry about that, I'm more interested in this feeling you have."

"I can't shake the image of you hurt, I know you're fine, but what if the next time you aren't?" I said looking into his eyes.

"Jessie you never have to worry about me. I'll always come home and I'll always be okay." He said rubbing my back. I nodded as I yawned a bit.

"Come on, let's get you back into bed." He said leading me over.

"Lay with me." I said softly. He nodded and we both got into bed. I snuggled up to him as he put a protective arm around me.

"I'll go once you fall asleep." He said softly.

"No, stay." I said. "The whole night."

"But tomorrow, when your family wakes up…" he started.

"That's tomorrow's problem." He chuckled and kissed my forehead.

"Goodnight sweetheart." He said as I drifted off into a peaceful sleep with thoughts of him, and the small feelings that had started to develop.

Hope you liked the bit of fluff!