Chapter 2-Rock the Red

"Hello!"

"Hey," Mike's voice said on the other end, "How are you?"

"Mike," Danielle sighed, "Why are you calling me?"

"I just called to ask how you were."

"I'm fine!"

"Danielle," he sighed, "I'm trying to do the right thing. Can we please talk?"

"We're talking now."

"As much as you'd hate to admit it but this is my baby too and we need to talk."

"I don't have time for this bullshit right now."

"Bullshit," Mike said finally getting angry, "Danielle, just fucking listen to me for once."

Danielle sat in silence not knowing what to say, "Are you there," Mike asked.

"Yeah," she mumbled running her hand over her stomach.

"I know you get out of school for the semester next week and I would like to come pick you up and bring you down here."

"That's not a good idea."

"Humor me as to why it isn't."

"I barely know you."

Mike laughed and Danielle wanted to kill him, "You didn't know me personally at all when we slept together. You knew who I was bur I was still a stranger."

"Are you calling me a whore?"

"I'm not calling you anything like that but I think we need to get to know wach other and you need to take into consideration my point of view on this entire situation."

"It's not easy just picking up and leaving my family."

"I promise that if you move here, you'll be safe with me. I have cars you can drive and more than enough room at my condo."

Mike knew he was taking a gamble inviting a girl he hardly knew to stay with him.

"If I say yes, will you leave me alone?"

"Maybe," Mike laughed and Danielle smiled.

"Have you told your parents?"

"Yeah, I did. They asked me how I could be so stupid then they both got really excited. What about your family, how'd they take it?"

"They were disappointed in me but I also told them I didn't know who the father was."

"Why would you tell them that?”

"I'm scared, Mike," Danielle admitted.

Mike wished he was there to give her a hug and let her know everything was going to be okay but he couldn't, "Everything is going to be okay, I promise."

"I hope you're right."

"Do you have any sonogram pictures that you can send me?"

"Yeah, I'll scan them to my computer tonight and email them to you. What's your email address?"

Mike told her what his email address was and she got on the computer and scanned them while he was on the phone.

"Are you doing anything special for Christmas," Mike asked.

"Just dinner at my aunt's on
Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner here at my house, how about you?"

"Probably spending it with Nicky and Marcus again. We have off the 24th-26th."

"Why don't you come to my house? We'll come back for the Holidays then we'll go back to Arlington and D.C. for New Years."

"I couldn't intrude on your family."

"Mike, come on, they have to meet you sometime."

"You're right," he replied, "I have to go, we have a game tonight but please keep in touch."

"Who do you play tonight?"

"Flyers."

"Kick their asses for me, please?"

"You got it," Mike laughed, "Bye Danielle, thank you again for the pictures."

"You're welcome, I'll talk to you later."

"Take care of yourself and if you need anything, please do not hesitate to call."

"I won't, bye Mike."

"Bye," he replied and Danielle heard the line click.

Mike looked at the sonogram pictures on the computer screen and smiled to himself. For the first time since finding out Danielle was pregnant, he was excited. He printed them out and put them next to his keys so he could show the guys.

"Hey," Kristi said when she came into the bedroom, "What's up?"

"Just got done talking to Mike."

"How'd that go?"

"He's coming here for Christmas then I'm going to DC for New Years."

"Have you told anybody downstairs yet?"

"I told them I didn't know who the father was but I guess I have to tell them who is now."

"Why don't you just tell them the truth?"

"I don't want them thinking that I purposely got pregnant to Mike because he is who he is."

"They're your family, they won't think that less of you."

"God, I wish we never would have went to that bar that night."

"Let's go to Primanti's and watch your baby's daddy play."

"Okay," Danielle smiled.

Kristi and Danielle sat at the restaurant staring at the TV with their mouths agape.

"Did Mike just knock out Carcillo?"

"Wha-what," Kristi asked, "I had no idea he could fight like that."

"You know Green," someone asked behind them.

"He's an old friend," Danielle replied pulling out her phone and sending Mike a text message.

Where the hell did you learn how to fight like that?

The game finished in OT and the Capitals won 5-4. Danielle was on her way home with Kristi when her phone rang.

"Hello!"

"Did you see the game?"

"Is it Mike," Kristi mouthed and Danielle nodded.

"Yeah, Kristi and I are on our way back from Primanti's. We went there to watch the game since neither one of us get the channel that it was on."

"Alex told me to tell you that the win was for you."

"Tell him thanks," Danielle laughed.

"I just wanted to call and ask you if you saw the game. I have to go, Bruce is about to cuss us out and then we're catching a plane to Chicago."

"Get me Toews' phone number," Danielle joked but Mike didn't laugh.

"Real funny," he said sternly.

"Jesus Mike, I'm kidding."

"Is it okay if I call you tomorrow?"

"Tell Bruce to shut the hell up," Danielle said laughing hearing Bruce cursing in the background.

"I wish he would," Mike laughed, "Talk to you later, goodnight."

"Goodnight!"

Kristi faked like she was crying and Danielle punched her in the arm, "Is it just me or is someone crushing on their baby's daddy?"

"I'm not crushing on Mike, those days were over when he knocked me up."

"Do you regret sleeping with him now?"

"I never should have went to that bar that night; I should have just went about my business and just went to practice."

"Are you honestly that against being a mom?"

"This baby didn't ask to be here but how can I have a kid when I'm practically still a kid myself?"

"You left out with a guy you don't know except for what Wikipedia tells you," Kristi threw in.

"Shut the fuck up!"

"Maybe when you spend time with him in D.C. he'll take you to dinner or something."

Kristi arrived in front of Danielle's house, "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Thanks for taking me tonight Danielle replied.

"No problem, I figured you could use a night out."

"Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!"

Danielle walked up the steps to her house and gave Kristi a wave when she opened the door.

The conversation with her family was cut short when her phone went off letting her know that she had a text message. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was from Mike.

Hey, are you up?

Yeah

I've been thinking

about what?

Baby names

I don't even know what we're having yet

I know but I have a couple of good names picked out

Like what?

I'll tell you in a second, I have something to ask you

What?

Can we give the baby my last name?

Mike, it's your baby too

I know but I just thought that you...nevermind

Talk to me, what's wrong?

I just assumed you would give the baby your last name since you hate me

I don't hate you, Mike

You should

Why?

I ruined your life

You didn't ruin my life, why would you think that?

You were almost done with school and I pushed you to do something you didn't want to do

I don't regret sleeping with you, I just wish I listened to the voice telling me to stay home that weekend

At least you met me though =P

Someone's getting cocky

I'm kidding but really back to the baby names

What did you have in mind?

Landon Michael Green or Michael David Green Jr. for boys

What if it's a girl?

You can pick the names

What do you think of Kyleigh or Kristina?

I like them, is it okay if I call you?

Just give me twenty minutes, I'm going to take a shower

Okay

Danielle took her time in the shower. The hot water washed away the tears she cried as she placed her hand on her stomach. She always said she wanted a baby when she'd shop in stores for family and even friends but now that she was pregnant she didn't feel that way anymore.

She turned the water off and dried off before getting ready for bed. She was almost asleep when her phone rang.

"Hey," she said groggily.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay."

"Sorry I didn't call when I was supposed to, I fell asleep."

"How's Chicago?"

"It's always bittersweet to leave. This city's gorgeous."

"Maybe you'll play for them one day."

"Maybe, their fans are amazing too."

"Chelsea Dagger is a pretty sweet goal song."

"I have something to ask you and you can completely say no and I would understand," Mike said suddenly.

"What?"

"The team is having a New Years Eve party, it's a formal occasion that we have to have dates for and I usually take my assistant but she has a boyfriend and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going with me."

"Do you always ramble when you're nervous?"

Mike chuckled softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't know how to ask."

"You had no problem approaching me in the club."

Mike laughed, "I'm sorry but it was the alcohol too. Alcohol makes people do crazy things."

"No kidding!"

"Seriously though, will you go with me?"

"Why not?"

"So, you'll go?"

"I'll go!"

"Good, Alex will be excited."

"I'm going with you not Alex."

"I know but he likes you. He thinks you're funny."

"Wow, Ovie has a heart!"

Mike laughed before sighing, "I have to go, I really need to get some sleep. We have an early practice."

"Alright, goodnight and good luck. Go Hawks!"

"Hey," Mike tried to argue but Danielle laughed.

"Bye Mike!"

"Who was that," her mom asked coming into the room.

"Remember how I said that I didn't know who the baby's father was."

"Yeah!"

"That was Mike, he's the father."

"Where's he from?"

"Canada."

"Where does he live?"

"D.C."

Danielle's mom stood in the doorway staring when her eyes went wide, "It's to a hockey player, isn't it?"

Danielle nodded her head and wiped away a tear that had fallen from her eye, "He's coming here for Christmas then I'm going to Washington for a couple of days over New Years. He wants me to look at schools so I can transfer and live there."

"At least he's trying to make it right and be there for you and the baby. He could have just blown everything off."

"I guess you're right, it's a big decision picking up and moving to Washington."

"You got to do what's best for you and the baby."

"You're right," Danielle replied giving her a hug, "Goodnight, I love you."

"I love you too."

Two Weeks Later

"I'm almost there," Mike said when Danielle answered the phone.

"Okay, I'll be waiting on the porch."

"Nicky and Mojo are with me, where do you want me to dump them off."

"Kristi's house," Danielle replied, "She loves Swedish men."

"What's her address?"

Danielle rattled off Kristi's address and Mike quickly said goodbye so that he could pull over and put it into his GPS. Sometime later, Mike showed up at Danielle's door, "Merry Christmas," he said giving her a hug placing her hand on her stomach.

"Thanks," Danielle smiled, "You too."

"Where is everybody?"

"They're at church, I wasn't feeling good and I took a nap."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Danielle smiled trying not to cry.

Mike saw right through her and pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her as she cried into his chest, "Don't lie to me," he whispered kissing the top of her head before pulling away wiping the tears from her eyes with his hands.

Danielle looked Mike in the eyes and she sighed to herself. Why were they comfortable with each other like they've been friends for years. Mike could tell she was thinking something but he didn't know what. He didn't want to ask worrying he'd build all walls back up that he had broken down with her.

Mike felt comfortable around her and he would do anything to protect her.

The silent moment between them was interrupted when Danielle's phone rang.

"I LOVE YOUR SWEDISH CHRISTMAS PRESENTS," Kristi yelled through the speaker and Mike laughed.

"They needed a place to stay so I told Mike to dump them off at your place."

"Oh, I'm going to take good care of them."

"Alright Kristi, I'm hanging up now."

"I'm not held responsible for the Swedish threesome."

"GOODBYE KRISTI," Danielle laughed.

"Am I still coming over later?"

"If you're not making Nick and Marcus Swedish sex slaves then yeah you can come over."

"Don't give me ideas, Danielle."

"You're messed up."

"I'm not the one that wants to go for a ride on Mike Green's scooter, wait you kind of already did."

"GOODBYE." Danielle screamed blushing and ended the call.

Mike smirked at Danielle who glared at him, "She's lying."

Mike laughed, "Whatever you say."

Danielle's family arrived home and Mike introduced himself to everybody. Everyone seemed to like him and Danielle breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of all the Capitals, you chose Mike Green," Jamie whispered as Mike talked to Danielle's mom.

"Shut up!"

"I still don't get what you see in him."

"We're not even together."

"You're just knocked up to him."

Mike looked across the room and smiled at Danielle who gave a small wave.

"It won't be long before you're rocking the red."

"Never in a million years."

"Whatever you say, traitor," Jamie replied rolling her eyes.

Danielle nudged her best friend and tried to laugh it off but part of her felt it was true. That's what you get for sleeping with the enemy.