"Are you coming to the game tonight,” Mike asked as he ate his steak and pasta that Danielle had cooked for him. He had been cleared to play after his physical therapy had heeled his shoulder enough for him to play in the playoffs for the Capitals.
Tonight was game six of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals and Mike was anxious to get back out on the ice. If the Caps won, they took the series but if not, they were heading back to Boston for game seven.
“I may or may not,” Danielle replied. “I have work to do for school next fall and I have to register plus I have to reschedule my doctor’s appointment that we cancelled for today.”
“Wait until the series is over and do it. I need to see what the schedule is like for the second round if we make it.”
Danielle had been attending Georgetown University but when the media got word of her attendance, she began classes online since she was followed everywhere.
“Have you thought about scheduling a C-Section?”
Danielle stopped eating and looked at Mike like he had two heads, “What?”
Mike laughed at her facial expression before explaining what he had meant. “I mean what if we make it in the playoffs all the way until June and you go into labor? I won’t be able to forgive myself if I miss Landon being born because I’m out on the west coast for a game.”
“We’ll be fine,” Danielle said reassuringly. “I promise.”
Mike stood up from the table and took Danielle’s empty plate and his to the sink where rinsed it off before sticking them in the dishwasher. He turned around and Danielle was standing next to him holding their empty glasses out to him.
Mike smiled as he took them and he turned around to wrap his arms around Danielle, “I love you both so much.”
Danielle smiled as he rubbed her stomach and Landon kicked happily. Mike smiled; he still wasn’t used to the feeling. Danielle was now seven month pregnant and Landon had began kicking her shortly before her sixth month. Danielle relaxed into Mike’s arms, “Shouldn’t you be getting dressed? You have to bed at the arena at four.”
“I’m going to take a shower and a nap, feel free to join me,” he smirked as he walked down the hall leaving Danielle smiling after him.
Danielle was laying Mike’s suit out for him when her phone rang. She smiled as she slid the answer button of the iPhone over, “Hey Kiley.”
“Brooks got the jersey for you, what time am I picking you up?"
"Mike's leaving at four, are you riding with Brooks or do you want me to drive?"
"I'll drive," Kiley replied. "I told Brooks that I had to run a couple of errands before I went to the arena. Be ready at six o'clock."
"Alright, I'll be ready."
"You sound nervous, are you ok?"
"I'm fine, I'm just anxious."
"You'll be fine, Mike will be so happy."
"I need to go make Mike a plate in case he's hungry when he wakes up and get ready. Call me when you get closer and I'll meet you out front."
"Sounds good, I'll see you at six."
Danielle said goodbye before going to the kitchen. She finished the dishes in the dishwasher and put a plate of food in the microwave for Mike.
Danielle set the alarm on her phone for 5:00 before crawling under the covers to take a nap. Mike came out of the bathroom drying his hair off with a towel.
"Are you ok," Danielle asked.
"I need to get with the massage therapist at the arena, my back is killing me," Mike replied.
Danielle stood up placing a kiss on Mike's lips, "Lay down."
"What?"
"Lay down on the bed and stretch your arms out."
Mike did as he was told and Danielle sat down on his butt, "Am I hurting you," she asked as she began massaging his back.
"God no, that feels so good."
Danielle ran her knuckles down his arms and back up to his neck. Mike groaned as Danielle hit the spot on his spine that was bothering him, "Right there," he gasped, "Oh God!"
"Better," she asked kissing his cheek.
Mike smiled at her, "Much better, thank you."
"Get some sleep, you got some ass to kick later."
Mike laughed before pulling her closer to him and they both fell asleep. Mike was the first to wake up when his alarm went off at two o'clock. He got dressed in his suit and smiled as he watched Danielle curl into his pillow watching him get dressed.
Mike leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Good luck," she grumbled as Mike pulled the blanket over her.
"Thanks! I'll call you after the game."
Danielle fell back asleep after he left and woke up a short time later to her own alarm going off. She showered and got dressed before waiting for Kiley to pick her up. Kiley had called her when she got closer to her and Mike's apartment. Danielle grabbed her purse and locked the door. Kiley reached behind the seat and held the jersey out to Danielle so she could put it on over her tank top. It was unseasonably warm for April in DC with 85 degree temperatures, definitely not hockey weather unless you were from Florida.
"Momma, you look good in red," Kiley said as Danielle buckled her seatbelt.
"I am such a dirty traitor."
"You were a traitor when you walked into that convention," Kiley joked.
"I had always been a closet Caps fan."
"You're a bad Penguins fan."
"I guess I have to be a Caps fan now since my baby's daddy plays for them, huh?"
"You left out boyfriend."
"Oh shut up and just drive."
Kiley laughed as they drove to the Verizon Center, "I swear to God if Brooks told them not to let me down after the game again, I'm going to the visitor's locker room and nailing Bergeron."
Danielle laughed, "You're terrible."
"I'm being dead serious. Last year after they lost to Tampa, he told them not to let me in and the security guard wouldn't let me go back."
"Wow!"
"Wow ain't the word, fucking bastard is."
"He's an idiot!"
Kiley laughed, "See, I knew that I liked you for a reason."
Kiley waved to the guard at the entrance to the player garage as she drove by. Danielle got out of the car and straightened her jersey.
"Do you just want to go straight to our seats or do you want to see Mike first?"
"Let's go to our seats, does Brooks know where we are sitting?"
"Yeah he does, I'll go let him know we're here. I'll meet you up there."
"Ok," Danielle replied before heading up the parking lot to the main entrance of the building.
"Is your girl coming to the game tonight," Brooks asked as he and Mike sat on the bench waiting for their shifts.
"She said she'd let me know if she was, she has a lot going on with Landon almost here and her school schedule. I want her here but our son and her education comes first."
Brooks smiled as he let his eyes wander into the crowd, "Section 117 row J," he heard Kiley's voice say in his head causing him to groan then smile.
"What," Mike asked curious as to why Brooks was groaning.
"Look at section 117 about ten rows up."
"Why?"
"Don't ask questions, just do it."
Mike rolled his eyes but turned his head to the left anyways and he smiled as he saw Danielle cheering wearing his jersey. She saw him look at her and waved as Dale Hunter nudged them for their shifts. Mike jumped over the boards with a new light. She was there and most of all she was there wearing his jersey.
Mike threw is hands in the air as his slapshot flew behind Tim Thomas tying the game. Unfortunately when the game was over, the Capitals were heading back to Boston for game seven. To say Mike was disappointed was an understatement but when he saw Danielle after the game waiting for him in the family lounge wearing a red jersey, his jersey, he pushed the loss to the back of his mind and wrapped her in a hug. Danielle squeezes him tightly and mumbled an apology for the loss but Mike didn't hear her as Landon kicked excitedly against his hands while he kissed her.
"Have I ever told you how amazing you are," Danielle asked Mike as they lay tangled up in each other in their bed after making love when they got home.
"You looked good in my jersey."
"You look even better in it," she replied smiling.
Mike laughed as he kissed her, "Thank you for being there today."
"You're welcomd but I'm never wearing red again."
"When I met you, you had a Caps jersey on. Don't even deny it."
"You would remember that!"
"I remember that day very well," Mike replied. "That was the day that I believed in love at first site."
"You're so cheesy."
"I'm being serious. You walked up to me and my world stopped. There were no other fans behind you or in front of you, it was just you and me. I knew in the bar that night too."
Danielle smiled at him before giving him a kiss, "I love you, cheeseball."
Mike laughed, "I love you too…traitor."
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Chapter 13-All in the Family
"Why did your mom decide to have this family dinner at a small banquet hall," Mike asked as Danielle carried the pan of rigatoni.
"It's a family reunion," she replied, "She figured since everyone is here for the baby shower, why not have a family reunion? Your family's here too."
"What," Mike asked as he held the door open, "How come you didn't tell me?"
"I figured they'd tell you that they were coming."
"Well, they didn't."
"Don't be such a crab ass. I'm in no mood for your shit today."
"Don't be a bitch," he spat.
"Seriously, we're going to do this now?"
"You started it!"
"You started it," Danielle mimicked causing Mike to get madder than he was, "Seriously, grow the fuck up. We're arguing over why I didn't tell you your family was coming."
"A heads up would have been nice."
"A condom would have been nice six months ago."
"So would have birth control!"
"You're so lucky I don't hit you right now. Go take a fucking vicodin so you calm down. Stay away from me today."
"Fine," Mike snarled, "Hopefully you take your bipolar medicine."
"I'm the bipolar one," Danielle gasped, "You're the one who started this argument after being nice the whole way here."
"Seriously," Mike said, "Go fuck yourself."
"I'd rather fuck myself than you."
Mike walked away before the fight took a turn for the worse causing both he and Danielle to curse each other out. They've had fights the last couple of weeks about stupid things. Mike knew it was from the pressure of the team and his injury that was making him cranky with Danielle.
Mike reclined the passenger seat of his Escalade and closed his eyes. Before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.
Danielle sat down at one of the tables running her hands over her stomach. Her back was killing her and all she wanted to do was sit all day. She hated when her and Mike fought, it reminded her of when she and her ex-boyfriend would fight where he'd storm out, only to return days later to apologize.
"Mike's not Jason," a voice inside of her head reminded her, "He's not out screwing the entire female population."
Danielle's family began filling the small banquet hall. Everyone was rubbing her stomach and asking her questions. Danielle's dad, Dan, walked in with Mike's family.
Kate Green was beaming with joy as Danielle walked over to her and gave her a hug.
"You are glowing," she gushed, "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Danielle replied, "Hi everybody."
Danielle's mom came running over and introduced herself before her and Kate went off gushing to everyone. Matt introduced his wife and daughter to Danielle before asking where Mike was.
Danielle told him about the argument and how Mike disappeared before she excused herself. Danielle walked outside to the car, knocking on the window, she saw Mike stir in his sleep before sitting up.
Danielle laughed at how disheveled he was and she opened the door. Mike reached in his bag behind the seat and put his glasses on.
"Hi," he whispered.
"Hi," Danielle replied leaning against the door.
Mike reached out and pulled her to him, "Sorry for being an asshole."
"We're both assholes," Danielle laughed, "We're both tired from driving this morning and we took it out on each other."
"I didn't mean to call you a bitch!"
"I'm used to being called a bitch, so it didn't bother me."
Mike kissed her cheek, "You didn't deserve that though."
Danielle turned her head to look him in the eye, "It's water under the bridge. Let's just go in and have a good time. By the way, my cousin is going apeshit so, please ignore him."
Mike laughed before leaning in to kiss her, "I love you, so I know I'll love your family."
"I hate them," Danielle replied, "They're a bunch of loud mouth assholes."
Mike laughed as he released his arms from around her waist, "I don't know about you but I'm hungry and your mom's pasta looks amazing."
Danielle smiled as Mike locked the car, and they headed into the family reunion, "That's my cousin's husband, Joe," she said as they watched the crowd gather around the man cheering, "He's the life of the party."
Mike laughed, "He looks like a good time."
"Before you knocked me up, I'd party with him every weekend."
As the family reunion wore on, Mike fell in love with Danielle's family. His family loved them too and were already making plans for a reunion in Calgary that summer when Landon was born.
At the end of the party, Mike helped Danielle clear off the tables of any garbage and they headed home.
“So…your parents and my parents are going to the bar,” Mike asked.
“Yup,” Danielle replied laughing, “Your brother and sister-in-law went back to the hotel and your sister went with them.”
“Wow,” Mike laughed, “Should we set a curfew for them?”
“I know, it’s super scary.”
“At least we got some time to ourselves,” Mike replied.
Danielle smiled as he wrapped his arm around her waist and they drove back to Danielle’s house. Mike locked the door as Danielle headed upstairs to their room. Mike heard water running in the bathroom knowing Danielle was taking a hot bath to relax after a long day of driving and her family.
Not wanting to disturb her, Mike changed his clothes and sat down on the bed waiting for Danielle to finish. Mike replied to a text that Nicky had sent him when Danielle entered the room. Mike gulped as he took in the lingerie that she was wearing.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered as he turned off the TV and stood up taking her stomach in his hands as he kissed her. Mike laid her back on the bed gently and slid the lace over her body as she reached for his sweatpants.
Danielle moaned as Mike entered her slowly and began his movements, “Mike,” she moaned as he bit down on her neck and she clawed at his back.
“I love you,” he whispered as he reached between them to run his fingers over her clit.
“FUCK,” she screamed as her back arched off of the bed and a couple of minutes later, Mike was hovering over her coming down from his high.
“I love you,” he whispered once again as he kissed her gently rubbing her stomach gently.
Danielle reached down and pulled the nightgown over her head before handing Mike his pants and they fell asleep. They had a long day ahead of them the following day as Mike would be attending Danielle’s baby shower because “the father should be there.” Mike thought that it was crazy but luckily Brooks and Kiley were driving up much to Brooks’ dismay. Nicky and Kristi were also coming to Pittsburgh to attend the baby shower.
Danielle was up first the next morning to the sounds of her and Mike’s families carrying on in the kitchen. She and Mike’s moms were finishing making cookies for the shower while their dads watched TV in the living room.
Mike showered and came downstairs and saw Danielle dressed and ready to go. It was eleven o’clock and the shower started at one. Brooks and Kiley ran into an accident on the turnpike and were in traffic, they would be half an hour late but according to Brooks, “The party didn’t start until he walked in.”
When Mike and Danielle arrived at the small restaurant that her mom had rented out for the shower, everyone who wasn’t at the reunion the night before was shocked to see that Mike really was the father of Danielle’s baby. One of the girls that she had went to high school with that remained in contact with her over the years smirked as she could recall Danielle’s crush on the Capitals defenseman.
“Everybody, this is Mike,” Danielle announced, “He’s Landon’s dad in case you were all wondering or for those of you who thought my mom and I were bullshitting.”
Mike laughed and gave an awkward wave as Danielle’s elderly great-grandmother who wasn’t at the reunion last night walked over to him, “You’re a hottie, want an old lady to teach you the ropes,” she winked as she pinched Mike’s butt causing him to jump and look at Danielle who was horrified.
“NANA,” Danielle scolded causing Mike to laugh.
“The boy is hot,” nana replied before going back to her seat.
“I’m so sorry,” Danielle apologized, “She can be a real firecracker when she wants to be.”
“Then I know the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” Mike smirked as Danielle kissed him.
“Sorry about the band aid on your neck,” she said, “I got carried away last night.”
“You were just marking your territory,” he whispered as he wrapped her in his arms putting his hands on her but pulling her as close as her stomach would allow.
Danielle giggled as Nicky came through the door with Kristi at his hide, “Nicky,” Danielle shrieked as the blonde Swede walked towards them with Kristi under his arm.
“Stay away from Nana,” Mike warned Nicky nodding his head in the elderly woman’s direction; “She just groped me and told me she’d show me the ropes.”
Nicky laughed and Kristi’s eyes went wide before looking at Danielle who laughed as well.
“She didn’t,” Kristi said causing Danielle to nod her head.
“Oh, she did.”
“Frizzy nana, apple does fall from tree, no,” Nicky asked.
“You mean frisky nana,” Kristi said causing him to blush as she corrected his English.
“Ja!”
“She’s very frisky, such a firecracker for 78.”
Jamie walked through the door greeting both Danielle and Kristi with hugs. She had finally gone away for college and was home for the weekend.
“Hey guys,” she greeted walking through the door setting down the big bowl of pasta salad that she had made.
“Jamie,” Danielle shrieked hugging her best friend, “I’ve missed you.”
Jamie smiled hugging her best friend tightly, “What’s up, Green?”
“Be nice,” Danielle whispered knowing her friend respected Mike and loved to joke around with him.
“Hi,” he said hugging her, “How’s school going?”
“It’s going well, just feels good to be home for a weekend and not suffocated by the country.”
“I hear you with that one,” he smiled as they all sat down to play the first game. It was a game where people wrote down what they knew about Mike and it wasn’t surprising that Jamie knew almost everything about Mike being the hockey nut she was.
Brooks and Kiley walked in when everyone was eating their lunch. Brooks sat down at a table next to Mike as Kiley took off to find Danielle across the room.
“We tell him about frizzy nana,” Nicky asked.
“No, we will not be telling him about the FRISKY nana,” Mike said as Brooks wondered what they were talking about as they whispered to each other.
“I’m fucking hungry, I’m going to eat.”
Brooks stood up from the table causing both Mike and Nicky to nudge each other. Brooks was getting food when Nana came up behind him and grabbed his crotch when he turned around.
“They don’t make packages like this anymore,” she said, “Your wife is a lucky girl but I think I can show you how experienced women get down.”
Kiley turned around and laughed at Brooks’ horrified facial expression, “If you want him, you can have him,” she joked turning around and smirking at Brooks who glared at her. Danielle walked over and pulled her grandmother away from Brooks who was standing there in shock. Mike and Nicky were laughing at the table as Brooks glared at them.
Danielle returned and sat down on Mike’s lap. Mike wrapped his arms around her waist and rubbed her stomach gently while everyone took pictures.
“You’re family is crazy but I love them,” he whispered in Danielle’s ear as she leaned back into his chest while every woman tried guessing how many mints were in the baby bottle for a prize.
“I love you,” she whispered kissing him.
Mike smiled, “I love you too,” he whispered as Landon kicked excitedly in his mother’s stomach.
Mike smiled suddenly realizing that his future was in his arms and he needed to make it work because it was no longer just him and Danielle; it was him, Danielle, and Landon. The three of them were a family.
"It's a family reunion," she replied, "She figured since everyone is here for the baby shower, why not have a family reunion? Your family's here too."
"What," Mike asked as he held the door open, "How come you didn't tell me?"
"I figured they'd tell you that they were coming."
"Well, they didn't."
"Don't be such a crab ass. I'm in no mood for your shit today."
"Don't be a bitch," he spat.
"Seriously, we're going to do this now?"
"You started it!"
"You started it," Danielle mimicked causing Mike to get madder than he was, "Seriously, grow the fuck up. We're arguing over why I didn't tell you your family was coming."
"A heads up would have been nice."
"A condom would have been nice six months ago."
"So would have birth control!"
"You're so lucky I don't hit you right now. Go take a fucking vicodin so you calm down. Stay away from me today."
"Fine," Mike snarled, "Hopefully you take your bipolar medicine."
"I'm the bipolar one," Danielle gasped, "You're the one who started this argument after being nice the whole way here."
"Seriously," Mike said, "Go fuck yourself."
"I'd rather fuck myself than you."
Mike walked away before the fight took a turn for the worse causing both he and Danielle to curse each other out. They've had fights the last couple of weeks about stupid things. Mike knew it was from the pressure of the team and his injury that was making him cranky with Danielle.
Mike reclined the passenger seat of his Escalade and closed his eyes. Before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.
Danielle sat down at one of the tables running her hands over her stomach. Her back was killing her and all she wanted to do was sit all day. She hated when her and Mike fought, it reminded her of when she and her ex-boyfriend would fight where he'd storm out, only to return days later to apologize.
"Mike's not Jason," a voice inside of her head reminded her, "He's not out screwing the entire female population."
Danielle's family began filling the small banquet hall. Everyone was rubbing her stomach and asking her questions. Danielle's dad, Dan, walked in with Mike's family.
Kate Green was beaming with joy as Danielle walked over to her and gave her a hug.
"You are glowing," she gushed, "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Danielle replied, "Hi everybody."
Danielle's mom came running over and introduced herself before her and Kate went off gushing to everyone. Matt introduced his wife and daughter to Danielle before asking where Mike was.
Danielle told him about the argument and how Mike disappeared before she excused herself. Danielle walked outside to the car, knocking on the window, she saw Mike stir in his sleep before sitting up.
Danielle laughed at how disheveled he was and she opened the door. Mike reached in his bag behind the seat and put his glasses on.
"Hi," he whispered.
"Hi," Danielle replied leaning against the door.
Mike reached out and pulled her to him, "Sorry for being an asshole."
"We're both assholes," Danielle laughed, "We're both tired from driving this morning and we took it out on each other."
"I didn't mean to call you a bitch!"
"I'm used to being called a bitch, so it didn't bother me."
Mike kissed her cheek, "You didn't deserve that though."
Danielle turned her head to look him in the eye, "It's water under the bridge. Let's just go in and have a good time. By the way, my cousin is going apeshit so, please ignore him."
Mike laughed before leaning in to kiss her, "I love you, so I know I'll love your family."
"I hate them," Danielle replied, "They're a bunch of loud mouth assholes."
Mike laughed as he released his arms from around her waist, "I don't know about you but I'm hungry and your mom's pasta looks amazing."
Danielle smiled as Mike locked the car, and they headed into the family reunion, "That's my cousin's husband, Joe," she said as they watched the crowd gather around the man cheering, "He's the life of the party."
Mike laughed, "He looks like a good time."
"Before you knocked me up, I'd party with him every weekend."
As the family reunion wore on, Mike fell in love with Danielle's family. His family loved them too and were already making plans for a reunion in Calgary that summer when Landon was born.
At the end of the party, Mike helped Danielle clear off the tables of any garbage and they headed home.
“So…your parents and my parents are going to the bar,” Mike asked.
“Yup,” Danielle replied laughing, “Your brother and sister-in-law went back to the hotel and your sister went with them.”
“Wow,” Mike laughed, “Should we set a curfew for them?”
“I know, it’s super scary.”
“At least we got some time to ourselves,” Mike replied.
Danielle smiled as he wrapped his arm around her waist and they drove back to Danielle’s house. Mike locked the door as Danielle headed upstairs to their room. Mike heard water running in the bathroom knowing Danielle was taking a hot bath to relax after a long day of driving and her family.
Not wanting to disturb her, Mike changed his clothes and sat down on the bed waiting for Danielle to finish. Mike replied to a text that Nicky had sent him when Danielle entered the room. Mike gulped as he took in the lingerie that she was wearing.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered as he turned off the TV and stood up taking her stomach in his hands as he kissed her. Mike laid her back on the bed gently and slid the lace over her body as she reached for his sweatpants.
Danielle moaned as Mike entered her slowly and began his movements, “Mike,” she moaned as he bit down on her neck and she clawed at his back.
“I love you,” he whispered as he reached between them to run his fingers over her clit.
“FUCK,” she screamed as her back arched off of the bed and a couple of minutes later, Mike was hovering over her coming down from his high.
“I love you,” he whispered once again as he kissed her gently rubbing her stomach gently.
Danielle reached down and pulled the nightgown over her head before handing Mike his pants and they fell asleep. They had a long day ahead of them the following day as Mike would be attending Danielle’s baby shower because “the father should be there.” Mike thought that it was crazy but luckily Brooks and Kiley were driving up much to Brooks’ dismay. Nicky and Kristi were also coming to Pittsburgh to attend the baby shower.
Danielle was up first the next morning to the sounds of her and Mike’s families carrying on in the kitchen. She and Mike’s moms were finishing making cookies for the shower while their dads watched TV in the living room.
Mike showered and came downstairs and saw Danielle dressed and ready to go. It was eleven o’clock and the shower started at one. Brooks and Kiley ran into an accident on the turnpike and were in traffic, they would be half an hour late but according to Brooks, “The party didn’t start until he walked in.”
When Mike and Danielle arrived at the small restaurant that her mom had rented out for the shower, everyone who wasn’t at the reunion the night before was shocked to see that Mike really was the father of Danielle’s baby. One of the girls that she had went to high school with that remained in contact with her over the years smirked as she could recall Danielle’s crush on the Capitals defenseman.
“Everybody, this is Mike,” Danielle announced, “He’s Landon’s dad in case you were all wondering or for those of you who thought my mom and I were bullshitting.”
Mike laughed and gave an awkward wave as Danielle’s elderly great-grandmother who wasn’t at the reunion last night walked over to him, “You’re a hottie, want an old lady to teach you the ropes,” she winked as she pinched Mike’s butt causing him to jump and look at Danielle who was horrified.
“NANA,” Danielle scolded causing Mike to laugh.
“The boy is hot,” nana replied before going back to her seat.
“I’m so sorry,” Danielle apologized, “She can be a real firecracker when she wants to be.”
“Then I know the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” Mike smirked as Danielle kissed him.
“Sorry about the band aid on your neck,” she said, “I got carried away last night.”
“You were just marking your territory,” he whispered as he wrapped her in his arms putting his hands on her but pulling her as close as her stomach would allow.
Danielle giggled as Nicky came through the door with Kristi at his hide, “Nicky,” Danielle shrieked as the blonde Swede walked towards them with Kristi under his arm.
“Stay away from Nana,” Mike warned Nicky nodding his head in the elderly woman’s direction; “She just groped me and told me she’d show me the ropes.”
Nicky laughed and Kristi’s eyes went wide before looking at Danielle who laughed as well.
“She didn’t,” Kristi said causing Danielle to nod her head.
“Oh, she did.”
“Frizzy nana, apple does fall from tree, no,” Nicky asked.
“You mean frisky nana,” Kristi said causing him to blush as she corrected his English.
“Ja!”
“She’s very frisky, such a firecracker for 78.”
Jamie walked through the door greeting both Danielle and Kristi with hugs. She had finally gone away for college and was home for the weekend.
“Hey guys,” she greeted walking through the door setting down the big bowl of pasta salad that she had made.
“Jamie,” Danielle shrieked hugging her best friend, “I’ve missed you.”
Jamie smiled hugging her best friend tightly, “What’s up, Green?”
“Be nice,” Danielle whispered knowing her friend respected Mike and loved to joke around with him.
“Hi,” he said hugging her, “How’s school going?”
“It’s going well, just feels good to be home for a weekend and not suffocated by the country.”
“I hear you with that one,” he smiled as they all sat down to play the first game. It was a game where people wrote down what they knew about Mike and it wasn’t surprising that Jamie knew almost everything about Mike being the hockey nut she was.
Brooks and Kiley walked in when everyone was eating their lunch. Brooks sat down at a table next to Mike as Kiley took off to find Danielle across the room.
“We tell him about frizzy nana,” Nicky asked.
“No, we will not be telling him about the FRISKY nana,” Mike said as Brooks wondered what they were talking about as they whispered to each other.
“I’m fucking hungry, I’m going to eat.”
Brooks stood up from the table causing both Mike and Nicky to nudge each other. Brooks was getting food when Nana came up behind him and grabbed his crotch when he turned around.
“They don’t make packages like this anymore,” she said, “Your wife is a lucky girl but I think I can show you how experienced women get down.”
Kiley turned around and laughed at Brooks’ horrified facial expression, “If you want him, you can have him,” she joked turning around and smirking at Brooks who glared at her. Danielle walked over and pulled her grandmother away from Brooks who was standing there in shock. Mike and Nicky were laughing at the table as Brooks glared at them.
Danielle returned and sat down on Mike’s lap. Mike wrapped his arms around her waist and rubbed her stomach gently while everyone took pictures.
“You’re family is crazy but I love them,” he whispered in Danielle’s ear as she leaned back into his chest while every woman tried guessing how many mints were in the baby bottle for a prize.
“I love you,” she whispered kissing him.
Mike smiled, “I love you too,” he whispered as Landon kicked excitedly in his mother’s stomach.
Mike smiled suddenly realizing that his future was in his arms and he needed to make it work because it was no longer just him and Danielle; it was him, Danielle, and Landon. The three of them were a family.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Chapter 12-Amazed
Mike watched as Danielle tried closing the zipper on her overstuffed suitcase, "Stop laughing and help me," she snapped.
Mike lifted the lid on the zebra print luggage and rearranged the top layer of clothes before shutting the lid and zipping it with ease, "Not that hard if you fold your stuff neatly," he smiled causing Danielle to glare at him.
"Smartass," she mumbled causing Mike to laugh.
"Next time zip your own damn suitcase," he replied as Danielle flipped him off before sitting down on the floor in front of the shower favor bags.
"What time is your appointment," she asked showing him the blue baby shoe filled with red and white M&Ms that had Landon's name on it.
"Should I fall over," Mike asked jokingly, "You have red and white M&Ms!"
"Kiley made these," Danielle replied, "So, shut up and answer my question, what time is your appointment?"
Mike tossed the favor back into the large gift bag and smiled, "1:30."
"Want me to go with you?"
Mike smiled, "You don't have to go if you don't want to, I know you have better things to do besides sit around in a doctor's office waiting for me."
"Mike, I'm not your ex-girlfriend. I care about you; it takes two to make a relationship work. I want to go," Danielle replied reaching her hands out for Mike to help her up.
Mike wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead against hers, "I feel like sometimes everything is too good to be true. I'm just waiting for something to happen to us. I feel like I don't deserve you or Landon," he admitted and Danielle pulled away, tracing her finger down his jaw.
Danielle pressed her forehead to Mike's causing him to wrap his arms tighter around her, "You're too good for me," she sighed, "I feel like I'm waiting for this to all be a dream, and when I wake up, none of this is real. I love you."
"I love you too," Mike replied placing his hands on her stomach as he felt Landon kick, "You too, little man. Let's go get some breakfast and walk around DC for a while, it's nice out today."
"Okay," Danielle smiled before grabbing her coat and boots out of the closet. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground but the sun was shining, "Can we go to McDonald's," she asked.
"You're a cheap date," Mike joked laughing.
"McDonald's has the best breakfast."
"Want to go to the American History museum after my appointment or do you want to call Kristi and Nicky to see if they want to spend the day in Georgetown?"
"Can we do both? You and I will go to the museum then we'll call Nicky and Kristi afterwards and go to Georgetown for dinner."
"Sounds good," Mike grinned, "Finish getting ready, I'll call Nicky."
Danielle gave him a quick kiss before he left the room. Walking into the bathroom, Danielle quickly brushed her teeth before taking a shower to get ready for the day.
"Mike, you ready to go," she asked as she walked into the living room.
Mike nodded his head and shut the television off before standing up. Grabbing his and Danielle's coats off the hooks by the door, he helped her into hers before shrugging into his own.
"What car are we taking today Mr. Bond," Danielle joked causing Mike to laugh.
"Lambo good?"
"Lambo to a doctor's appointment? How about something a little bit less Fast and Furious?"
Mike sighed laughing, "Alright fine, you win, we'll take the Escalade."
Danielle smirked in victory and climbed in the large black SUV. Mike drove into DC, stopping at McDonald's on the way. Danielle quickly threw a straw in her orange juice and started sucking it down.
Mike drove into the historical part of DC before pulling over near the national mall by the Lincoln Memorial.
"Come on," he whispered grabbing the bags as they headed towards the benches along the path. A light dusting of snow covered the trees making it picture perfect as they sat down to eat their breakfast.
Mike smiled at Danielle as she took a sip of her decaffeinated coffee through a straw. She had done well during the pregnancy so far eating healthy for her and Landon. She had cravings but they weren’t as bad as Mike thought and he didn’t mind practically falling asleep at the rink every morning from late night runs to fast food restaurants or to the grocery store for pizza and ice cream. Mike didn’t realize how much his life had changed since he had met Danielle. Call their romance cliché if you’d like but to people who didn’t know the story behind their relationship, they would think that they were together for a long time.
Danielle finished her breakfast before Mike and leaned back against the bench closing her eyes taking in the cold wind that blew around her. She fell in love with DC more than she thought she would and she saw the city as her second home. If Mike was ever traded from the city which was an annual rumor in the hockey world, she’d be just as devastated as he was. Danielle felt Mike stand up to throw away their garbage in a nearby trashcan and she watched him as he smiled at her when he made his way back over to the bench. She took everything about him in, from the jeans he wore to the grandpa slippers on his feet. People who called him a douchebag didn’t see the side of Mike that she saw every day. The side where he’d talk to her stomach when he thought she was sleeping and he’d tell Landon all of the things he was going to teach him when he was older like shoot a slap shot, fight, and how to throw a football. They also didn’t see the man behind the red jersey, the man who cried when injuries kept him out too long and he felt helpless to his team or the man who loved his family more than anything and would give people the shirt off his back if he had to.
Mike sat down next to her again and grabbed her hand, “What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing,” Danielle lied so that her tears wouldn’t fall. Her hormones were out of whack today and she knew if she told Mike what she was thinking, she’d break down.
“You’re such a liar,” he smirked and Danielle leaned up giving him a kiss on the lips before pulling her phone out of her pocket.
"Come on, take a picture with me so I can brag about you on Facebook to the bitches back home in Pittsburgh," Danielle said causing Mike to roll his eyes before pulling her closer to him kissing her forehead. Danielle held her arm out, snapping a picture with her phone as she and Mike smiled.
"My head looks huge in that," Mike said, "Take another one."
"I'll kiss your cheek and you raise an eyebrow while smirking."
Mike did as he was told, and they both laughed at how cheesy yet adorable the photo was.
"Send that to my sister so she can show my mom," Mike said and Danielle sent it to Megan before posting it to Facebook.
Mike looked at his watch and saw that they had twenty minutes until he had to be at his doctor's appointment. The two of them walked back to the car with Mike's arm around Danielle's waist, his hand in her back pocket.
Danielle smiled as Mike pinned her against the truck and kissed her into oblivion. She giggled as he rubbed his nose against hers like they were twelve years old, "Jackass."
Mike grinned while opening the passenger door to help Danielle into the SUV. They drove to his appointment where Mike waited impatienly to be called back.
"Stay here, okay," Mike whispered and Danielle didn't bother putting up a fight with him.
Danielle picked up a parenting magazine and began reading it. Half an hour had gone by and Mike still wasn't out of the office yet. Danielle checked her Facebook and laughed at the comments on the picture of her with Mike. Her cousins that didn't know she was dating him were going batshit crazy, asking when they would meet him. Her uncle who didn't know anything about hockey asked who he was and what the big deal was causing het cousins to lash out on him.
Hearing the door that led back to the rooms open, Danielle sighed as she saw Mike's arm in a sling and the frustrated look on his face. Mike reached for her hand and they walked out of the doctor's office.
Mike gave Danielle the keys because he couldn't drive. No words were spoken between the two of them as Mike leaned his headback on the seat, closing his eyes. Danielle kept one hand on the wheel as she reached over for Mike's hand. Mike squeezed it gently, giving her a small smile before running his thumb over her knuckles.
Danielle and Mike went with Kristi and Nicky to lunch later on that day, where Mike told the young Swede the news. Nicky sighed in defeat clearly just as frustrated as Mike was.
Danielle and Kristi talked about the baby shower, changing the subject to a more happier one than Mike's diagnosis. The walk through Georgetown saw Mike buying more baby clothes for Landon while Kristi and Danielle shopped in the lingerie stores.
Mike laid in bed that night thinking that he should feel worse than he did, but as he looked down to see Danielle sound asleep on his chest, he realized that his life was almost perfect and she made it that way by saving him from himself more ways than she could ever imagine. They were a long way away from marriage but Mike knew she was the one he'd be with forever.
Mike lifted the lid on the zebra print luggage and rearranged the top layer of clothes before shutting the lid and zipping it with ease, "Not that hard if you fold your stuff neatly," he smiled causing Danielle to glare at him.
"Smartass," she mumbled causing Mike to laugh.
"Next time zip your own damn suitcase," he replied as Danielle flipped him off before sitting down on the floor in front of the shower favor bags.
"What time is your appointment," she asked showing him the blue baby shoe filled with red and white M&Ms that had Landon's name on it.
"Should I fall over," Mike asked jokingly, "You have red and white M&Ms!"
"Kiley made these," Danielle replied, "So, shut up and answer my question, what time is your appointment?"
Mike tossed the favor back into the large gift bag and smiled, "1:30."
"Want me to go with you?"
Mike smiled, "You don't have to go if you don't want to, I know you have better things to do besides sit around in a doctor's office waiting for me."
"Mike, I'm not your ex-girlfriend. I care about you; it takes two to make a relationship work. I want to go," Danielle replied reaching her hands out for Mike to help her up.
Mike wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead against hers, "I feel like sometimes everything is too good to be true. I'm just waiting for something to happen to us. I feel like I don't deserve you or Landon," he admitted and Danielle pulled away, tracing her finger down his jaw.
Danielle pressed her forehead to Mike's causing him to wrap his arms tighter around her, "You're too good for me," she sighed, "I feel like I'm waiting for this to all be a dream, and when I wake up, none of this is real. I love you."
"I love you too," Mike replied placing his hands on her stomach as he felt Landon kick, "You too, little man. Let's go get some breakfast and walk around DC for a while, it's nice out today."
"Okay," Danielle smiled before grabbing her coat and boots out of the closet. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground but the sun was shining, "Can we go to McDonald's," she asked.
"You're a cheap date," Mike joked laughing.
"McDonald's has the best breakfast."
"Want to go to the American History museum after my appointment or do you want to call Kristi and Nicky to see if they want to spend the day in Georgetown?"
"Can we do both? You and I will go to the museum then we'll call Nicky and Kristi afterwards and go to Georgetown for dinner."
"Sounds good," Mike grinned, "Finish getting ready, I'll call Nicky."
Danielle gave him a quick kiss before he left the room. Walking into the bathroom, Danielle quickly brushed her teeth before taking a shower to get ready for the day.
"Mike, you ready to go," she asked as she walked into the living room.
Mike nodded his head and shut the television off before standing up. Grabbing his and Danielle's coats off the hooks by the door, he helped her into hers before shrugging into his own.
"What car are we taking today Mr. Bond," Danielle joked causing Mike to laugh.
"Lambo good?"
"Lambo to a doctor's appointment? How about something a little bit less Fast and Furious?"
Mike sighed laughing, "Alright fine, you win, we'll take the Escalade."
Danielle smirked in victory and climbed in the large black SUV. Mike drove into DC, stopping at McDonald's on the way. Danielle quickly threw a straw in her orange juice and started sucking it down.
Mike drove into the historical part of DC before pulling over near the national mall by the Lincoln Memorial.
"Come on," he whispered grabbing the bags as they headed towards the benches along the path. A light dusting of snow covered the trees making it picture perfect as they sat down to eat their breakfast.
Mike smiled at Danielle as she took a sip of her decaffeinated coffee through a straw. She had done well during the pregnancy so far eating healthy for her and Landon. She had cravings but they weren’t as bad as Mike thought and he didn’t mind practically falling asleep at the rink every morning from late night runs to fast food restaurants or to the grocery store for pizza and ice cream. Mike didn’t realize how much his life had changed since he had met Danielle. Call their romance cliché if you’d like but to people who didn’t know the story behind their relationship, they would think that they were together for a long time.
Danielle finished her breakfast before Mike and leaned back against the bench closing her eyes taking in the cold wind that blew around her. She fell in love with DC more than she thought she would and she saw the city as her second home. If Mike was ever traded from the city which was an annual rumor in the hockey world, she’d be just as devastated as he was. Danielle felt Mike stand up to throw away their garbage in a nearby trashcan and she watched him as he smiled at her when he made his way back over to the bench. She took everything about him in, from the jeans he wore to the grandpa slippers on his feet. People who called him a douchebag didn’t see the side of Mike that she saw every day. The side where he’d talk to her stomach when he thought she was sleeping and he’d tell Landon all of the things he was going to teach him when he was older like shoot a slap shot, fight, and how to throw a football. They also didn’t see the man behind the red jersey, the man who cried when injuries kept him out too long and he felt helpless to his team or the man who loved his family more than anything and would give people the shirt off his back if he had to.
Mike sat down next to her again and grabbed her hand, “What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing,” Danielle lied so that her tears wouldn’t fall. Her hormones were out of whack today and she knew if she told Mike what she was thinking, she’d break down.
“You’re such a liar,” he smirked and Danielle leaned up giving him a kiss on the lips before pulling her phone out of her pocket.
"Come on, take a picture with me so I can brag about you on Facebook to the bitches back home in Pittsburgh," Danielle said causing Mike to roll his eyes before pulling her closer to him kissing her forehead. Danielle held her arm out, snapping a picture with her phone as she and Mike smiled.
"My head looks huge in that," Mike said, "Take another one."
"I'll kiss your cheek and you raise an eyebrow while smirking."
Mike did as he was told, and they both laughed at how cheesy yet adorable the photo was.
"Send that to my sister so she can show my mom," Mike said and Danielle sent it to Megan before posting it to Facebook.
Mike looked at his watch and saw that they had twenty minutes until he had to be at his doctor's appointment. The two of them walked back to the car with Mike's arm around Danielle's waist, his hand in her back pocket.
Danielle smiled as Mike pinned her against the truck and kissed her into oblivion. She giggled as he rubbed his nose against hers like they were twelve years old, "Jackass."
Mike grinned while opening the passenger door to help Danielle into the SUV. They drove to his appointment where Mike waited impatienly to be called back.
"Stay here, okay," Mike whispered and Danielle didn't bother putting up a fight with him.
Danielle picked up a parenting magazine and began reading it. Half an hour had gone by and Mike still wasn't out of the office yet. Danielle checked her Facebook and laughed at the comments on the picture of her with Mike. Her cousins that didn't know she was dating him were going batshit crazy, asking when they would meet him. Her uncle who didn't know anything about hockey asked who he was and what the big deal was causing het cousins to lash out on him.
Hearing the door that led back to the rooms open, Danielle sighed as she saw Mike's arm in a sling and the frustrated look on his face. Mike reached for her hand and they walked out of the doctor's office.
Mike gave Danielle the keys because he couldn't drive. No words were spoken between the two of them as Mike leaned his headback on the seat, closing his eyes. Danielle kept one hand on the wheel as she reached over for Mike's hand. Mike squeezed it gently, giving her a small smile before running his thumb over her knuckles.
Danielle and Mike went with Kristi and Nicky to lunch later on that day, where Mike told the young Swede the news. Nicky sighed in defeat clearly just as frustrated as Mike was.
Danielle and Kristi talked about the baby shower, changing the subject to a more happier one than Mike's diagnosis. The walk through Georgetown saw Mike buying more baby clothes for Landon while Kristi and Danielle shopped in the lingerie stores.
Mike laid in bed that night thinking that he should feel worse than he did, but as he looked down to see Danielle sound asleep on his chest, he realized that his life was almost perfect and she made it that way by saving him from himself more ways than she could ever imagine. They were a long way away from marriage but Mike knew she was the one he'd be with forever.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Chapter 11-Crazy Love
"I'm going home to Pittsburgh this weekend to help my mom make favors for my baby shower next Saturday, are you coming with me?"
Mike looked up from the screen of his Macbook and shook his head no, "I wish I could but we have two practices this weekend and back to back games on Monday and Tuesday. I'm coming with you for your shower though; your dad and I are going fishing."
"The game on Tuesday decides if you guys get into the playoffs or not, right?"
"Yeah it does, are you coming?"
"Kristi and I are coming. Kiley is coming too but she's a nervous wreck about it."
Mike frowned, "I wish you'd get excited for the game. I know you are loyal to the flightless birds but honestly, I'm your boyfriend, can you be supportive of me?"
"Are you fucking serious right now," Danielle began, "You're going to sit there and tell me that I'm not supportive. I fucking gave up my entire life to move here. I put my dreams on hold and you're living yours. If anyone should be pissed off here, then it should be me."
Mike shut his laptop and walked into the bedroom slamming the door.
"You're a fucking asshole," she shouted, "Until you're done acting like a child, I am going out."
Danielle grabbed her keys to her car that her cousin drove down to Arlington for her and headed to Brooks' house that he shared with Kiley.
"Wait, let me get this straight," Kiley asked, "He just picked your first fight for no reason and said you need to be more supportive of him. Is he not aware of how much you have sacrificed for him? Honestly, he's acting like a prick."
"I mean she is a loyal Pens fan, I see where he's coming from," Brooks said.
"Who asked you," Kiley snapped, "Then you wonder why I own a Kesler jersey. I cannot believe you are siding with him."
Brooks smirked while shrugging his shoulders, "Bros before hoes."
"Keep it up and you are sleeping on the couch tonight."
Danielle took a sip of her water bottle before placing a hand on her now six months pregnant stomach, "I just think something is up with him. I know we act perfect but no relationship is perfect, I mean we were bound to fight sometime, right?"
"Just don't pay any attention to him. It could be just the stress of the season winding down."
"Yeah, you're right;" Danielle replied putting her phone in her jacket pocket, "I'm going to head out, it's getting late."
"I'll see you tomorrow," Kiley said standing up to give Danielle a hug, "I'll see you in the morning."
"What? No hug for me," Brooks pouted.
"Fine, give me a hug jackass," Danielle replied.
"He loves you," Brooks reassured her, "All he talks about is you and Landon. You make him happy, just ignore him."
Danielle smiled, "I ain't the easiest person to live with."
"Neither is she," Brooks whispered nodding towards Kiley.
“Fuck you,” Kiley glared, “Danielle, call me if you need anything. I am going to go call my mom and ask her when she and my grandma are coming down to visit.”
“Bye Kiley, see you later Brooks,” she replied walking to her car.
Mike stood in disbelief as he stared at the woman standing in front of him, “What are you doing here Tara,” he asked.
“Are you really having a baby with a girl you don’t even know,” she asked standing there in disbelief.
“We were friends,” Mike replied sticking to the story that he had told the nurse at one of Danielle’s doctor’s appointments, “We both decided we wanted kids and she got pregnant. We’re together now, 3 months now.”
“Do you love her?”
“Fuck you,” Mike spat, “Get the fuck out of my house and don’t come back. I don’t need you trying to fuck up my relationship. Another thing, my parents, my brother, and my sister actually like her. She’s not a gold digging slut like you were.”
“Mike, what the fuck is going on here,” Danielle asked coming through the door, “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“I’m Tara, his ex.”
“I fucking know who you are. I’m Danielle, mother of his child. My question is, what are you doing in our house?”
“Our house,” Tara laughed, “Too fucking funny.”
“LEAVE TARA,” Mike screamed, “NOW!”
Tara smirked before leaving, “He’ll just find someone else.”
“Danielle,” Mike said reaching for her, “Please hear me out.”
“Never took you for the hit them and leave them type. Was this some sick game, you knock me up, tell me you love me, and then kick me to the curb.”
“God no,” Mike replied, “I do love you, Danielle, I really do.”
“Mike, I am not dealing with this,” she replied walking towards their bedroom. Grabbing her suitcase from under the bed, stepping into the closet, she began folding clothes and putting them in their suitcase.
“Where are you going?”
“To Pittsburgh, I’ll call you when Landon is born.”
Mike sighed, “Danielle, please don’t do this,” he pleaded.
“I gave up every fucking thing to move here. I wish I never would have met you."
Mike watched as Danielle broke down crying as she sat on the bed, "Call me if you need anything."
Shutting the door behind him, Mike left the room so Danielle didn't see his tears.
Danielle sat down on the bed with her arms wrapped around her stomach. Tears hit the floor as Danielle cried. Sliding back on the bed, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Mike locked the door after the locksmith left, changing the keys on Danielle's keys to the ones needed to unlock the new locks. Mike crawled in bed next to Danielle and wrapped his arms around her.
She stirred in her sleep, "Mike," she whispered turning to face him. Mike felt like someone stabbed him in the chest when he saw Danielle's mascara stained face.
"I love you," he whispered running the pads of his thumbs under her eyes, "Tara was here to cause trouble and I kicked her out. I got the locks changed. I'd never cheat on you."
Danielle wrapped her arms around his waist, "I'm sorry for overreacting."
"I'm sorry for telling you that you don't support me. I know you love your hometown and you love me too. I'm just stressed out about my injury."
"You're injured," Danielle asked, "Mike, when?"
"A couple of days ago when you took your cousin back to Pittsburgh, I went to finish my check, the guy jumped out of the way, and I went shoulder first into the boards."
"Are you okay?"
"It's separated, I'm out the rest of the season," Mike said above a whisper.
Danielle ran her hands through his hair as he laid his head on her stomach, she had seen him cry before and it broke her heart every time.
Danielle felt her shirt getting wet as Mike silently let the tears fall down his face.
"Sit up," Danielle whispered shifting herself into a sitting position. Mike shifted so that he was sitting next to her; Danielle crawled into his lap and put her arms around his waist. Mike kissed her forehead and held her against his chest.
"I hate it when you're injured."
"I hate being injured," he replied, "I can't catch a break."
Danielle scratched the back of Mike’s neck, “I love you,” she said cuddling closer to his chest.
Mike pulled away and smiled, “I love you too.”
“Are you hungry,” Danielle asked when Mike’s stomach growled.
“A little bit, want to go get a late dinner?”
“Can we please go to Johnny Rockets? I really, really, really want a milkshake.”
Mike laughed before looking at the clock, “It’s only nine, and they’re open until eleven.”
“We better speed the whole way there and you better promise cops tickets to the playoff games.”
“You’re terrible,” Mike smiled as Danielle stood up and went into the bathroom to wash her face.
Danielle practically ran out of the door and to Mike’s Escalade as he locked the door behind them, “Hurry up,” she whined, “I’m hungry.”
Mike and Danielle talked about their up and coming trip to Pittsburgh, “Maybe you should see a doctor in Pittsburgh,” she suggested, “They’re the best in the country with their Sports Medicine program. A lot of athletes have traveled here to get surgery done and we can always stay with my parents for a little bit while you recover. They love having you at the house.”
“We could always find our own place there,” Mike suggested, “What about in that apartment building that you’ve always wanted to live in up on that hill you took me to on our first date?”
“Mike, you already do enough, you are not buying another house.”
“I already have my own back in Calgary that we can go to in the summer, but come on don’t you want something that you can call your own back in Pittsburgh? I know you love your parents but do you really want to stay with them every time you go back there. What about when I’m there and we want to be alone, besides, I’ve been looking into it off and on and those apartments are really nice and I want to make you happy.”
“How do we go from fighting to talking about moving into a new apartment in a matter of hours?”
“If we didn’t fight, our relationship wouldn’t work. No relationship is perfect, hell look at how we got together.”
“We’re fucked up!”
“Cheers to being fucked up,” Mike smiled raising his water glass as Danielle reached for her milkshake. As the glasses clung together, Mike and Danielle laughed before finishing their dinner while the waitresses danced as part of the tradition at Johnny Rockets.
Mike and Danielle drove home from the restaurant and talked about when they were going to go look for apartments in Pittsburgh. Mike had his heart set on the apartment building that overlooked the city. He had to have the view or he wasn’t moving. As much as he was supposed to hate the city and everything that came with it, he was growing to love it.
He knew one very important in his life was from there and he had to accept that she wasn’t giving up her hometown any time soon. Landon was more than likely going to be born there and Mike was bound and determined that his son would be raised a Caps fan but if he liked the Penguins Mike would have to accept it.
Mike prayed to God that if he was ever traded, it would be to Pittsburgh. There were talks that Mike would be traded within the next season at the trade deadline, Mike pleaded with George McPhee to trade him to Pittsburgh. He wouldn’t settle for Toronto, Los Angeles, Edmonton, or Montreal. It was Pittsburgh or he wasn’t going anywhere and in the end when an offer came to the Capitals from Calgary for the young defenseman, George McPhee politely declined the offer.
Mike noticed Danielle had fallen asleep, reaching over the console, Mike grabbed Danielle’s hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. Instead of waking Danielle up, Mike picked her up and carried her into the house.
Laying her in bed while he went through his drawers to find her a t-shirt to put on, Mike lifted her gently and removed her clothes. As he soothed the shirt over Danielle’s stomach, he felt Landon kick and he smiled.
“Hey buddy,” he whispered.
Landon kicked again and Mike laughed, “You’re already back talking. Stubborn like your mother.”
Mike placed a kiss on Danielle’s forehead and walked over to the bathroom to take a shower. When Mike finished, he crawled in bed and wrapped his arms around Danielle.
A part of Mike was devastated that he was injured for the rest of the playoffs but at least it meant that if the Capitals made it far into the playoffs, and took their season to June, Mike would be there for Landon’s birth.
Closing his eyes to get some sleep for the day ahead of him at Kettler to undergo testing with the training staff, Mike realized that both he and Danielle’s relationship wasn’t perfect but he knew deep down that no matter what happened, they would get through it because although their circumstances were crazy, they loved each other and love conquers all in the end.
Mike looked up from the screen of his Macbook and shook his head no, "I wish I could but we have two practices this weekend and back to back games on Monday and Tuesday. I'm coming with you for your shower though; your dad and I are going fishing."
"The game on Tuesday decides if you guys get into the playoffs or not, right?"
"Yeah it does, are you coming?"
"Kristi and I are coming. Kiley is coming too but she's a nervous wreck about it."
Mike frowned, "I wish you'd get excited for the game. I know you are loyal to the flightless birds but honestly, I'm your boyfriend, can you be supportive of me?"
"Are you fucking serious right now," Danielle began, "You're going to sit there and tell me that I'm not supportive. I fucking gave up my entire life to move here. I put my dreams on hold and you're living yours. If anyone should be pissed off here, then it should be me."
Mike shut his laptop and walked into the bedroom slamming the door.
"You're a fucking asshole," she shouted, "Until you're done acting like a child, I am going out."
Danielle grabbed her keys to her car that her cousin drove down to Arlington for her and headed to Brooks' house that he shared with Kiley.
"Wait, let me get this straight," Kiley asked, "He just picked your first fight for no reason and said you need to be more supportive of him. Is he not aware of how much you have sacrificed for him? Honestly, he's acting like a prick."
"I mean she is a loyal Pens fan, I see where he's coming from," Brooks said.
"Who asked you," Kiley snapped, "Then you wonder why I own a Kesler jersey. I cannot believe you are siding with him."
Brooks smirked while shrugging his shoulders, "Bros before hoes."
"Keep it up and you are sleeping on the couch tonight."
Danielle took a sip of her water bottle before placing a hand on her now six months pregnant stomach, "I just think something is up with him. I know we act perfect but no relationship is perfect, I mean we were bound to fight sometime, right?"
"Just don't pay any attention to him. It could be just the stress of the season winding down."
"Yeah, you're right;" Danielle replied putting her phone in her jacket pocket, "I'm going to head out, it's getting late."
"I'll see you tomorrow," Kiley said standing up to give Danielle a hug, "I'll see you in the morning."
"What? No hug for me," Brooks pouted.
"Fine, give me a hug jackass," Danielle replied.
"He loves you," Brooks reassured her, "All he talks about is you and Landon. You make him happy, just ignore him."
Danielle smiled, "I ain't the easiest person to live with."
"Neither is she," Brooks whispered nodding towards Kiley.
“Fuck you,” Kiley glared, “Danielle, call me if you need anything. I am going to go call my mom and ask her when she and my grandma are coming down to visit.”
“Bye Kiley, see you later Brooks,” she replied walking to her car.
Mike stood in disbelief as he stared at the woman standing in front of him, “What are you doing here Tara,” he asked.
“Are you really having a baby with a girl you don’t even know,” she asked standing there in disbelief.
“We were friends,” Mike replied sticking to the story that he had told the nurse at one of Danielle’s doctor’s appointments, “We both decided we wanted kids and she got pregnant. We’re together now, 3 months now.”
“Do you love her?”
“Fuck you,” Mike spat, “Get the fuck out of my house and don’t come back. I don’t need you trying to fuck up my relationship. Another thing, my parents, my brother, and my sister actually like her. She’s not a gold digging slut like you were.”
“Mike, what the fuck is going on here,” Danielle asked coming through the door, “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“I’m Tara, his ex.”
“I fucking know who you are. I’m Danielle, mother of his child. My question is, what are you doing in our house?”
“Our house,” Tara laughed, “Too fucking funny.”
“LEAVE TARA,” Mike screamed, “NOW!”
Tara smirked before leaving, “He’ll just find someone else.”
“Danielle,” Mike said reaching for her, “Please hear me out.”
“Never took you for the hit them and leave them type. Was this some sick game, you knock me up, tell me you love me, and then kick me to the curb.”
“God no,” Mike replied, “I do love you, Danielle, I really do.”
“Mike, I am not dealing with this,” she replied walking towards their bedroom. Grabbing her suitcase from under the bed, stepping into the closet, she began folding clothes and putting them in their suitcase.
“Where are you going?”
“To Pittsburgh, I’ll call you when Landon is born.”
Mike sighed, “Danielle, please don’t do this,” he pleaded.
“I gave up every fucking thing to move here. I wish I never would have met you."
Mike watched as Danielle broke down crying as she sat on the bed, "Call me if you need anything."
Shutting the door behind him, Mike left the room so Danielle didn't see his tears.
Danielle sat down on the bed with her arms wrapped around her stomach. Tears hit the floor as Danielle cried. Sliding back on the bed, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Mike locked the door after the locksmith left, changing the keys on Danielle's keys to the ones needed to unlock the new locks. Mike crawled in bed next to Danielle and wrapped his arms around her.
She stirred in her sleep, "Mike," she whispered turning to face him. Mike felt like someone stabbed him in the chest when he saw Danielle's mascara stained face.
"I love you," he whispered running the pads of his thumbs under her eyes, "Tara was here to cause trouble and I kicked her out. I got the locks changed. I'd never cheat on you."
Danielle wrapped her arms around his waist, "I'm sorry for overreacting."
"I'm sorry for telling you that you don't support me. I know you love your hometown and you love me too. I'm just stressed out about my injury."
"You're injured," Danielle asked, "Mike, when?"
"A couple of days ago when you took your cousin back to Pittsburgh, I went to finish my check, the guy jumped out of the way, and I went shoulder first into the boards."
"Are you okay?"
"It's separated, I'm out the rest of the season," Mike said above a whisper.
Danielle ran her hands through his hair as he laid his head on her stomach, she had seen him cry before and it broke her heart every time.
Danielle felt her shirt getting wet as Mike silently let the tears fall down his face.
"Sit up," Danielle whispered shifting herself into a sitting position. Mike shifted so that he was sitting next to her; Danielle crawled into his lap and put her arms around his waist. Mike kissed her forehead and held her against his chest.
"I hate it when you're injured."
"I hate being injured," he replied, "I can't catch a break."
Danielle scratched the back of Mike’s neck, “I love you,” she said cuddling closer to his chest.
Mike pulled away and smiled, “I love you too.”
“Are you hungry,” Danielle asked when Mike’s stomach growled.
“A little bit, want to go get a late dinner?”
“Can we please go to Johnny Rockets? I really, really, really want a milkshake.”
Mike laughed before looking at the clock, “It’s only nine, and they’re open until eleven.”
“We better speed the whole way there and you better promise cops tickets to the playoff games.”
“You’re terrible,” Mike smiled as Danielle stood up and went into the bathroom to wash her face.
Danielle practically ran out of the door and to Mike’s Escalade as he locked the door behind them, “Hurry up,” she whined, “I’m hungry.”
Mike and Danielle talked about their up and coming trip to Pittsburgh, “Maybe you should see a doctor in Pittsburgh,” she suggested, “They’re the best in the country with their Sports Medicine program. A lot of athletes have traveled here to get surgery done and we can always stay with my parents for a little bit while you recover. They love having you at the house.”
“We could always find our own place there,” Mike suggested, “What about in that apartment building that you’ve always wanted to live in up on that hill you took me to on our first date?”
“Mike, you already do enough, you are not buying another house.”
“I already have my own back in Calgary that we can go to in the summer, but come on don’t you want something that you can call your own back in Pittsburgh? I know you love your parents but do you really want to stay with them every time you go back there. What about when I’m there and we want to be alone, besides, I’ve been looking into it off and on and those apartments are really nice and I want to make you happy.”
“How do we go from fighting to talking about moving into a new apartment in a matter of hours?”
“If we didn’t fight, our relationship wouldn’t work. No relationship is perfect, hell look at how we got together.”
“We’re fucked up!”
“Cheers to being fucked up,” Mike smiled raising his water glass as Danielle reached for her milkshake. As the glasses clung together, Mike and Danielle laughed before finishing their dinner while the waitresses danced as part of the tradition at Johnny Rockets.
Mike and Danielle drove home from the restaurant and talked about when they were going to go look for apartments in Pittsburgh. Mike had his heart set on the apartment building that overlooked the city. He had to have the view or he wasn’t moving. As much as he was supposed to hate the city and everything that came with it, he was growing to love it.
He knew one very important in his life was from there and he had to accept that she wasn’t giving up her hometown any time soon. Landon was more than likely going to be born there and Mike was bound and determined that his son would be raised a Caps fan but if he liked the Penguins Mike would have to accept it.
Mike prayed to God that if he was ever traded, it would be to Pittsburgh. There were talks that Mike would be traded within the next season at the trade deadline, Mike pleaded with George McPhee to trade him to Pittsburgh. He wouldn’t settle for Toronto, Los Angeles, Edmonton, or Montreal. It was Pittsburgh or he wasn’t going anywhere and in the end when an offer came to the Capitals from Calgary for the young defenseman, George McPhee politely declined the offer.
Mike noticed Danielle had fallen asleep, reaching over the console, Mike grabbed Danielle’s hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. Instead of waking Danielle up, Mike picked her up and carried her into the house.
Laying her in bed while he went through his drawers to find her a t-shirt to put on, Mike lifted her gently and removed her clothes. As he soothed the shirt over Danielle’s stomach, he felt Landon kick and he smiled.
“Hey buddy,” he whispered.
Landon kicked again and Mike laughed, “You’re already back talking. Stubborn like your mother.”
Mike placed a kiss on Danielle’s forehead and walked over to the bathroom to take a shower. When Mike finished, he crawled in bed and wrapped his arms around Danielle.
A part of Mike was devastated that he was injured for the rest of the playoffs but at least it meant that if the Capitals made it far into the playoffs, and took their season to June, Mike would be there for Landon’s birth.
Closing his eyes to get some sleep for the day ahead of him at Kettler to undergo testing with the training staff, Mike realized that both he and Danielle’s relationship wasn’t perfect but he knew deep down that no matter what happened, they would get through it because although their circumstances were crazy, they loved each other and love conquers all in the end.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Chapter 10-Be Mine
"What are you and Danielle doing for Valentine's Day," Brooks asked Mike as the two of them skated around the ice at Kettler.
"I honestly don't have any idea what we are doing. I'm not good with this whole romance shit," Mike replied firing a puck at Neuvy.
"You do know Valentine's Day is in three days, right? I know you may not care but to the chicks, it means something. Kiley told me that Danielle's had boyfriends before, but she's never had an actual date on Valentine's Day. Make it special for her since one of her old boyfriends dumped her on the holiday."
"Really?"
"She tells Kiley a lot man, I think you need to plan something special."
"What are you doing for Kiley?"
"Nice dinner at a fancy restaurant then home for some dessert."
"I wish I had dessert," Mike mumbled to himself but Brooks heard it.
"Wait, what?"
"Nothing," Mike lied, "I said you're a pig for the dessert comment."
"You haven't been laid," Brooks asked, "You and Danielle have been together almost three months and you haven't done it yet"
"She came onto me once but I think it was her hormones, so I turned her down."
"Do you love her," Nicky asked finally breaking his silence.
"Yeah, I do love her. I told her a couple of weeks ago and I tell her every day."
"Make love to her then, idiot," Brooks said, "She knows you love her now you have to show her how much you do."
"Kiley has turned you into a pussy!"
"At least I'm a pussy who's getting pussy!"
"Fucking dickhead," Mike laughed shoving Brooks playfully.
"You get her present," Nicky asked.
"No, I didn't yet."
"After practice, you and me go. Kristi need present."
"Are you two official yet," Mike asked.
"No, she just come here every other weekend and we stay in watch movie, fall asleep."
"Do you like her," Brooks asked.
"Ja," Nicky replied, "A lot!"
"Take her on a date then," Mike said, "Is she coming here for Valentine's Day?"
"Ja."
"Send her flowers, get her a present, and ask her to dinner on the card. Women love that shit."
"I don't know what to get Danielle; it’s my first time buying anything for her and she's picky."
"Kiley said she wanted a Pandora charm bracelet with baby stuff on it for Landon. Danielle saw it at the mall the other day when they went shopping."
"What store?"
"I can't remember, I'll call Kiley as soon as practice is over and I'll ask her."
"Nicky, want to go with me? I'll call Danielle and ask her what Kristi would like?"
"Yeah, thanks," Nicky replied, "I thought about getting her tickets for Sweden this summer with me but I not sure."
"Let me let you in on a secret, Nicky," Mike said putting his arm around his shoulder, "Kristi loves anything having to do with Sweden. Buy her tickets to go with you this summer and she'll marry you."
Brooks laughed when Nicky blushed, "I get her tickets on one condition."
"What's the condition?"
"You and Danielle come with us, bring baby."
"When's Danielle due anyway," Brooks asked.
"June 20."
"We go end of August," Nicky said.
"I'll talk to Danielle about it and I'll let you know."
"Okay!"
"Alright you fucking shitbums, hit the fucking showers, and let's go the fuck home," Bruce Boudreau called to the men who showed up at the morning's optional skate.
Mike returned to the locker room after finishing his shower, "Kiley said that Danielle saw that bracelet at the Zales in that Pentagon City mall," Brooks said zipping his jeans.
"Thanks," Mike replied pulling his sweater over his head, "Where's Nicky?"
"He is waiting for you outside."
"Do you think I should get Danielle something else besides the bracelet?"
"Rookie," Brooks mumbled causing Mike to throw a roll of stick tape at him.
"I'm being serious," Mike said sighing, "This is my first Valentine's Day with a girl that actually means something in my life."
"Look around and see if anything screams her to you. Trust me, you'll know if it is the right gift or not."
"Thanks for everything," he replied shaking Brooks' hand.
"Just don't pull a Bruce and get her shoes that are the wrong size and color."
"She'd have my balls on a platter."
"She's had your balls on a platter since the day she moved here."
"Fuck you," Mike laughed shoving his friend before leaving the locker room to go find Nicky.
Nicky was on the phone sitting in the car, Mike was asked for autographs by small group of fans outside of Kettler. Mike finished signing for the small group of ten before getting in the car.
"I talk to mom," Nicky said putting his phone in his pocket, "She excited we come to Sweden. Even more excited you bring baby, she tell me she want grandbaby soon."
Mike laughed while clapping the young Swede on his back, "Oh man, just wait until Kristi finds out."
"I still need to ask her out on date," he replied.
"Wait a second, I thought you two were already a thing."
"No, no," Nicky said unsure of what to say.
"So, she lives with you but you're not dating?"
"We just," Nicky paused before blushing, "We just have sex. Lots of sex but I like her a lot."
Mike laughed watching the young Swede blush while at a loss for words, "Ha ha make fun of Nicky."
"I'm not making fun of you but she likes you a lot, I say ask her out. I promise you that she won't say no," Mike assured his friend.
"Thanks," Nicky sighed, "By the way where is this place we go to?"
"Just go to the mall downstairs, they have lots of jewelry stores. It beats driving half way across town."
Mike and Nicky walked into the large mall and both stood there cluelessly.
"Where we start?"
"There's a jewelry store right there, maybe they have something," Mike said making the first step with Nicky right behind him.
Mike browsed the cases of Express Jewelers before he finally found the small Pandora display. Nicky was already talking to a salesman about a necklace that he saw when he walked in.
"May I help you," the younger salesman asked from behind the counter.
"What kind of charms do you have for moms," Mike asked.
"Well, it starts by picking a bracelet for them to go on. You can choose from both gold and silver. We also have white gold."
"I like that bracelet," Mike said pointing to the white gold bracelet with yellow gold clasp.
"Excellent choice, now are you and your wife having a boy or girl?"
"My girlfriend is having a boy."
"Congratulations, now do you have a name chosen?"
"Landon Michael," Mike replied watching as the salesman pulled an L and an M from the tray.
"Last name," he asked causing Mike to look at him.
"Green."
The salesman pulled a G from the tray and put them on the center of the bracelet. Mike pointed out a pair of hockey sticks, a baby carriage, a rattle and bottle, a little boy, and he pointed to a little girl.
"Step child?"
"God no," Mike laughed, "It's for the daughter we haven't had yet."
The salesman smiled while adding blue charms in between the ones Mike had chosen. Mike was watching Nicky blush while getting hit on by a mom with her teenage daughter that had noticed him.
Laughing slightly, Mike looked down at the bracelet that the salesman placed in front of him.
"She's going to love it," he assured the salesman.
"Would you like me to wrap it for you?"
"Yes please, I'll take that Cartier watch as well," Mike smiled pointing to the watch on the poster above the counter.
Danielle was going to rip him a new ass for spending all of that money on her. She hated it when Mike thought he had to buy her nice things to prove he loved her.
"You ready to go," Mike asked Nicky. Nicky was currently staring into a glass case with a confused look on his face.
"Ja," he replied standing up and following Mike out of the store, "What you buy?"
“What did you buy,” Mike smirked as Nicky tried to hide the bag.
“Nothing!”
“Mhm,” Mike laughed, “You are never a good liar Nicky.”
“Okay, fine,” Nicky sighed, “I got present for Kristi.”
“What did you get?”
“I got her angel wings necklace.”
“Angel wings,” Mike asked, “What?”
“If I tell you, you make fun of me.”
“Why would I make fun of you?”
Nicky didn’t say anything so Mike gave up and they walked out of the mall and towards the car. Mike pulled out his iPhone to call Danielle to let her know that they were on their way home. Danielle was out shopping with Kiley and Kristi, she let him know she’d bring something home for dinner and Mike asked her to bring home Chinese from P.F. Chang.
“Can we stop at the flower shop on the way back,” Mike asked Nicky.
“Ja,” Nicky replied, “Where Danielle?”
“She’s out shopping with Kiley and Kristi. Are you ever going to tell me why you bought her an angel wings necklace.”
Nicky sighed before nodding his head, “I call her my angel, so I buy her angel wings.”
“That's actually cool,” Mike smiled, “Not going to lie. At least you knew what to get her, I had to ask Brooks for clues about Danielle.”
“He only told you bracelet, what else did you buy?"
"Danielle loves borrowing my watches so I bought her one of her own."
"One to start her collection," Nicky joked.
"I guess so," Mike replied laughing as they pulled into the flower store.
Mike and Nicky both bought flowers. Mike new Danielle hated roses and he bought her a dozen of pink lilies instead. He remembered she said they were her favorite flower.
When Mike arrived home, he put the gifts in his dresser drawer. Just as he was finishing licking the envelope of the card, he heard the front door close.
"Mike," Danielle called out, "Are you home?"
Mike walked into the hallway with the flowers and a smile, "Hey baby," he said.
Danielle turned around and gasped, "Mike, they're beautiful. I can't believe you remembered."
"Be mine this year," Mike smiled.
"Mike," she replied hugging him tightly, "Of course."
Mike leaned down and gave her a kiss, "I'm taking you out Tuesday after the game, so plan on being up late."
"Where are you taking me?"
"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?"
"Mike," Danielle whined, "I hate surprises."
Mike placed his hand on her stomach, rubbing her small bump lightly.
"Are you going to play soccer for daddy?"
Danielle rolled her eyes, “I wish he’d kick soon, let us know he’s alive in there.”
“He’s fine,” Mike reassured her, “Let’s eat, I’m starving.”
February 14, 2012
Danielle stood with Kiley and Kristi in the hallway of Verizon Center waiting for Brooks, Mike, and Nicky.
Nicky was the first to come out of the room much to Danielle’s dismay. She was anxious to see what Mike had planned and why neither Kiley nor Kristi were saying a word about it.
“Ready to leave,” Mike asked stepping into the hallway.
“I thought we’d never leave this damn arena,” Danielle smiles as Mike leaned down to kiss her.
“You know how long this shit takes.”
“I want my presents,” she whined.
“Presents? What presents?”
“Real funny!”
Mike smirked as he grabbed her hand and lead her down the hallway. Danielle stopped suddenly and Mike turned around to see if she was okay.
“HOLY SHIT THAT’S KRIS VERSTEEG,” she said loudly.
“Really, Danielle,” Mike laughed, “You’re going ape shit over Versteeg.”
“He was one of my favorite Blackhawks.”
They walked by Kris Versteeg and he winked at Danielle and she shrieked causing Mike to roll his eyes.
“You’re unbelievable,” Mike laughed.
“What?”
Mike opened the door of his Maserati for Danielle, “Such a gentleman,” she smiled as Mike rounded the car.
Mike drove to the historical part of DC to Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
“Where are we going?”
“Our first date was at a French restaurant in Pittsburgh, so I figured we’d spend our first Valentine’s Day together at a French restaurant here.”
“I love you,” Danielle said leaning over to kiss his cheek.
“I love you too,” Mike replied smiling at her quickly.
“Aren’t all of the restaurants closed this late?”
“Danielle, who am I?”
“Mike Green?”
“Exactly,” he smirked.
“Cocky, are we?”
“I’ll show you cocky,” Mike smirked again and Danielle gulped.
They pulled up in front of the restaurant and Mike handed his keys off to the valet. They were seated in the back of the restaurant since other diners were still there on their dates. Mostly corporate business men who you could tell put in long hours at the office.
Mike reached into the inside of his jacket and grabbed the box with the watch in it, “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby,” he said handing the box to Danielle.
Danielle smiled and tore open the medium sized jewelry box, “Mike,” she gasped taking the watch off of the small pillow, “It’s gorgeous.”
“Since you always borrow my watches, I’d figured I’d buy you your own,” he smiled.
“I love it,” she assured him, “I really do, thank you so much.”
Mike smiled when she came around the table and gave him a kiss, “I love you,” he said handing her the other box. Danielle gasped as she flipped the rectangular box open.
“Mike, how did you know,” she asked tearing up.
“Brooks told me,” he smiled gesturing for her to hand him the bracelet so that he could put it on her wrist.
“What’s the little girl for,” Danielle asked as Mike fastened it around her wrist.
“It’s the daughter we didn’t have yet,” he smiled and Danielle felt the breath hitch in her throat.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said, “Mike, you’re too good to me.”
“You’ve changed my life in so many ways, I used to hate coming home to an empty house now I look forward to coming home because you are there. I love you, Danielle, a lot.”
“I love you too,” she replied, “I built so many walls up around my heart but you broke them down. I did everything in my life ass backwards but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Neither would I,” Mike smiled as their food arrived.
They finished eating and were laughing talking about Nicky being so shy when Danielle reached into her purse and pulled out Mike’s gift.
“I couldn’t think of anything to get you but since you like stuff that looks rock and roll, I’d figured I’d get it for you.”
“I love it,” Mike said taking the black onyx and platinum bracelet out of the box, “I believe it or not was going to buy one of these sooner or later. Mike fastened the bracelet around his wrist and smiled, “I really love it.”
As their dinner finished up, Mike and Danielle drove back home to Arlington. Mike had one hand on the steering wheel and his right was holding Danielle’s hand. They pulled into the garage and made their way into the house. Walking down the hall to their bedroom, Mike held Danielle’s hand.
As Danielle washed her face clean of her make-up and brushed her teeth, Mike lit the candles that he had set up in the room and turned the lights down low. Grabbing the box of rose pedals under the bed, Mike put them on the floor from the bathroom to the bed. Pouring two glasses of red wine, one for him and one for Danielle who could only drink red wine during her pregnancy, he sat down on the bed and waited for her to come out.
Danielle stepped out of the bathroom shutting the light off behind her. Not bothering to close the robe she was wearing with her bra and underwear underneath, she gasped when she saw Mike smiling at her holding a wine glass.
“This kind of shit only happens in movies,” she joked causing Mike to laugh.
“Wow,” he gasped taking in the red bra and panties that she was wearing with her bump showing freely.
Mike’s free hand traced Danielle’s stomach lightly, “You look beautiful,” he whispered placing a kiss on her baby bump.
Danielle ran her fingers through Mike’s hair as he smiled up at her, Mike stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist before claiming his lips with hers. Danielle shivered as Mike ran his hands up and down her bare back.
“I want you Mike,” she whispered, “Please don’t stop me this time.”
“I wouldn’t have done all of this if I planned on stopping you, let me make love to you,” he replied pushing the robe off her shoulders.
Danielle gasped as his lips moved to her neck and his hands worked to unclasp her bra, “Mike,” she gasped as he ran his hands over her breasts before replacing them with his mouth.
Danielle pushed Mike back gently on the bed and crawled over him pressing her lips to his once more, “I love you,” she whispered before grabbing the waistband of his boxers. Mike kicked out of them and ran his index finger over the waistband of Danielle’s red lace panties.
“Not fair,” he mumbled as Danielle smirked against his lips and lifted herself up so Mike could remove them. Mike ran his fingers over her folds causing her to gasp before Danielle reached between them and grabbed Mike’s hard penis with her hand.
Placing at her slit, she ran it up and down before slowly lowing herself down on to him causing them both to groan, “Fuck,” she hissed as Mike thrusted into her fully.
“This doesn’t feel right,” he said flipping them over as he thrusted in and out slowly leaving Danielle to cry out for him to go faster.
“Oh God,” she gasped as he picked up his pace and sucked on her collar bone.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered.
Two hours later, Mike carefully collapsed on top of her. Placing soft kisses on her swollen lips, Mike ran his fingers through her hair.
“I love you,” he whispered as he and Danielle continued to kiss and get lost in their own little world that was soon joined by the first movement of their baby boy.
“Did you feel that,” Danielle asked Mike who smiled like he had just scored a breakaway goal on the best goalie in the league
“Yeah,” Mike smiled placing his hands over Danielle’s and Landon kicked again, “Even our son agrees that you’re mine today.”
Danielle smiled, “I hope I’m yours for more than just today.”
“You’re mine, always,” he smiled giving her a kiss before making love to the woman that he had been waiting for his whole life proving that Valentine’s Day really is for lovers.
"I honestly don't have any idea what we are doing. I'm not good with this whole romance shit," Mike replied firing a puck at Neuvy.
"You do know Valentine's Day is in three days, right? I know you may not care but to the chicks, it means something. Kiley told me that Danielle's had boyfriends before, but she's never had an actual date on Valentine's Day. Make it special for her since one of her old boyfriends dumped her on the holiday."
"Really?"
"She tells Kiley a lot man, I think you need to plan something special."
"What are you doing for Kiley?"
"Nice dinner at a fancy restaurant then home for some dessert."
"I wish I had dessert," Mike mumbled to himself but Brooks heard it.
"Wait, what?"
"Nothing," Mike lied, "I said you're a pig for the dessert comment."
"You haven't been laid," Brooks asked, "You and Danielle have been together almost three months and you haven't done it yet"
"She came onto me once but I think it was her hormones, so I turned her down."
"Do you love her," Nicky asked finally breaking his silence.
"Yeah, I do love her. I told her a couple of weeks ago and I tell her every day."
"Make love to her then, idiot," Brooks said, "She knows you love her now you have to show her how much you do."
"Kiley has turned you into a pussy!"
"At least I'm a pussy who's getting pussy!"
"Fucking dickhead," Mike laughed shoving Brooks playfully.
"You get her present," Nicky asked.
"No, I didn't yet."
"After practice, you and me go. Kristi need present."
"Are you two official yet," Mike asked.
"No, she just come here every other weekend and we stay in watch movie, fall asleep."
"Do you like her," Brooks asked.
"Ja," Nicky replied, "A lot!"
"Take her on a date then," Mike said, "Is she coming here for Valentine's Day?"
"Ja."
"Send her flowers, get her a present, and ask her to dinner on the card. Women love that shit."
"I don't know what to get Danielle; it’s my first time buying anything for her and she's picky."
"Kiley said she wanted a Pandora charm bracelet with baby stuff on it for Landon. Danielle saw it at the mall the other day when they went shopping."
"What store?"
"I can't remember, I'll call Kiley as soon as practice is over and I'll ask her."
"Nicky, want to go with me? I'll call Danielle and ask her what Kristi would like?"
"Yeah, thanks," Nicky replied, "I thought about getting her tickets for Sweden this summer with me but I not sure."
"Let me let you in on a secret, Nicky," Mike said putting his arm around his shoulder, "Kristi loves anything having to do with Sweden. Buy her tickets to go with you this summer and she'll marry you."
Brooks laughed when Nicky blushed, "I get her tickets on one condition."
"What's the condition?"
"You and Danielle come with us, bring baby."
"When's Danielle due anyway," Brooks asked.
"June 20."
"We go end of August," Nicky said.
"I'll talk to Danielle about it and I'll let you know."
"Okay!"
"Alright you fucking shitbums, hit the fucking showers, and let's go the fuck home," Bruce Boudreau called to the men who showed up at the morning's optional skate.
Mike returned to the locker room after finishing his shower, "Kiley said that Danielle saw that bracelet at the Zales in that Pentagon City mall," Brooks said zipping his jeans.
"Thanks," Mike replied pulling his sweater over his head, "Where's Nicky?"
"He is waiting for you outside."
"Do you think I should get Danielle something else besides the bracelet?"
"Rookie," Brooks mumbled causing Mike to throw a roll of stick tape at him.
"I'm being serious," Mike said sighing, "This is my first Valentine's Day with a girl that actually means something in my life."
"Look around and see if anything screams her to you. Trust me, you'll know if it is the right gift or not."
"Thanks for everything," he replied shaking Brooks' hand.
"Just don't pull a Bruce and get her shoes that are the wrong size and color."
"She'd have my balls on a platter."
"She's had your balls on a platter since the day she moved here."
"Fuck you," Mike laughed shoving his friend before leaving the locker room to go find Nicky.
Nicky was on the phone sitting in the car, Mike was asked for autographs by small group of fans outside of Kettler. Mike finished signing for the small group of ten before getting in the car.
"I talk to mom," Nicky said putting his phone in his pocket, "She excited we come to Sweden. Even more excited you bring baby, she tell me she want grandbaby soon."
Mike laughed while clapping the young Swede on his back, "Oh man, just wait until Kristi finds out."
"I still need to ask her out on date," he replied.
"Wait a second, I thought you two were already a thing."
"No, no," Nicky said unsure of what to say.
"So, she lives with you but you're not dating?"
"We just," Nicky paused before blushing, "We just have sex. Lots of sex but I like her a lot."
Mike laughed watching the young Swede blush while at a loss for words, "Ha ha make fun of Nicky."
"I'm not making fun of you but she likes you a lot, I say ask her out. I promise you that she won't say no," Mike assured his friend.
"Thanks," Nicky sighed, "By the way where is this place we go to?"
"Just go to the mall downstairs, they have lots of jewelry stores. It beats driving half way across town."
Mike and Nicky walked into the large mall and both stood there cluelessly.
"Where we start?"
"There's a jewelry store right there, maybe they have something," Mike said making the first step with Nicky right behind him.
Mike browsed the cases of Express Jewelers before he finally found the small Pandora display. Nicky was already talking to a salesman about a necklace that he saw when he walked in.
"May I help you," the younger salesman asked from behind the counter.
"What kind of charms do you have for moms," Mike asked.
"Well, it starts by picking a bracelet for them to go on. You can choose from both gold and silver. We also have white gold."
"I like that bracelet," Mike said pointing to the white gold bracelet with yellow gold clasp.
"Excellent choice, now are you and your wife having a boy or girl?"
"My girlfriend is having a boy."
"Congratulations, now do you have a name chosen?"
"Landon Michael," Mike replied watching as the salesman pulled an L and an M from the tray.
"Last name," he asked causing Mike to look at him.
"Green."
The salesman pulled a G from the tray and put them on the center of the bracelet. Mike pointed out a pair of hockey sticks, a baby carriage, a rattle and bottle, a little boy, and he pointed to a little girl.
"Step child?"
"God no," Mike laughed, "It's for the daughter we haven't had yet."
The salesman smiled while adding blue charms in between the ones Mike had chosen. Mike was watching Nicky blush while getting hit on by a mom with her teenage daughter that had noticed him.
Laughing slightly, Mike looked down at the bracelet that the salesman placed in front of him.
"She's going to love it," he assured the salesman.
"Would you like me to wrap it for you?"
"Yes please, I'll take that Cartier watch as well," Mike smiled pointing to the watch on the poster above the counter.
Danielle was going to rip him a new ass for spending all of that money on her. She hated it when Mike thought he had to buy her nice things to prove he loved her.
"You ready to go," Mike asked Nicky. Nicky was currently staring into a glass case with a confused look on his face.
"Ja," he replied standing up and following Mike out of the store, "What you buy?"
“What did you buy,” Mike smirked as Nicky tried to hide the bag.
“Nothing!”
“Mhm,” Mike laughed, “You are never a good liar Nicky.”
“Okay, fine,” Nicky sighed, “I got present for Kristi.”
“What did you get?”
“I got her angel wings necklace.”
“Angel wings,” Mike asked, “What?”
“If I tell you, you make fun of me.”
“Why would I make fun of you?”
Nicky didn’t say anything so Mike gave up and they walked out of the mall and towards the car. Mike pulled out his iPhone to call Danielle to let her know that they were on their way home. Danielle was out shopping with Kiley and Kristi, she let him know she’d bring something home for dinner and Mike asked her to bring home Chinese from P.F. Chang.
“Can we stop at the flower shop on the way back,” Mike asked Nicky.
“Ja,” Nicky replied, “Where Danielle?”
“She’s out shopping with Kiley and Kristi. Are you ever going to tell me why you bought her an angel wings necklace.”
Nicky sighed before nodding his head, “I call her my angel, so I buy her angel wings.”
“That's actually cool,” Mike smiled, “Not going to lie. At least you knew what to get her, I had to ask Brooks for clues about Danielle.”
“He only told you bracelet, what else did you buy?"
"Danielle loves borrowing my watches so I bought her one of her own."
"One to start her collection," Nicky joked.
"I guess so," Mike replied laughing as they pulled into the flower store.
Mike and Nicky both bought flowers. Mike new Danielle hated roses and he bought her a dozen of pink lilies instead. He remembered she said they were her favorite flower.
When Mike arrived home, he put the gifts in his dresser drawer. Just as he was finishing licking the envelope of the card, he heard the front door close.
"Mike," Danielle called out, "Are you home?"
Mike walked into the hallway with the flowers and a smile, "Hey baby," he said.
Danielle turned around and gasped, "Mike, they're beautiful. I can't believe you remembered."
"Be mine this year," Mike smiled.
"Mike," she replied hugging him tightly, "Of course."
Mike leaned down and gave her a kiss, "I'm taking you out Tuesday after the game, so plan on being up late."
"Where are you taking me?"
"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?"
"Mike," Danielle whined, "I hate surprises."
Mike placed his hand on her stomach, rubbing her small bump lightly.
"Are you going to play soccer for daddy?"
Danielle rolled her eyes, “I wish he’d kick soon, let us know he’s alive in there.”
“He’s fine,” Mike reassured her, “Let’s eat, I’m starving.”
February 14, 2012
Danielle stood with Kiley and Kristi in the hallway of Verizon Center waiting for Brooks, Mike, and Nicky.
Nicky was the first to come out of the room much to Danielle’s dismay. She was anxious to see what Mike had planned and why neither Kiley nor Kristi were saying a word about it.
“Ready to leave,” Mike asked stepping into the hallway.
“I thought we’d never leave this damn arena,” Danielle smiles as Mike leaned down to kiss her.
“You know how long this shit takes.”
“I want my presents,” she whined.
“Presents? What presents?”
“Real funny!”
Mike smirked as he grabbed her hand and lead her down the hallway. Danielle stopped suddenly and Mike turned around to see if she was okay.
“HOLY SHIT THAT’S KRIS VERSTEEG,” she said loudly.
“Really, Danielle,” Mike laughed, “You’re going ape shit over Versteeg.”
“He was one of my favorite Blackhawks.”
They walked by Kris Versteeg and he winked at Danielle and she shrieked causing Mike to roll his eyes.
“You’re unbelievable,” Mike laughed.
“What?”
Mike opened the door of his Maserati for Danielle, “Such a gentleman,” she smiled as Mike rounded the car.
Mike drove to the historical part of DC to Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
“Where are we going?”
“Our first date was at a French restaurant in Pittsburgh, so I figured we’d spend our first Valentine’s Day together at a French restaurant here.”
“I love you,” Danielle said leaning over to kiss his cheek.
“I love you too,” Mike replied smiling at her quickly.
“Aren’t all of the restaurants closed this late?”
“Danielle, who am I?”
“Mike Green?”
“Exactly,” he smirked.
“Cocky, are we?”
“I’ll show you cocky,” Mike smirked again and Danielle gulped.
They pulled up in front of the restaurant and Mike handed his keys off to the valet. They were seated in the back of the restaurant since other diners were still there on their dates. Mostly corporate business men who you could tell put in long hours at the office.
Mike reached into the inside of his jacket and grabbed the box with the watch in it, “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby,” he said handing the box to Danielle.
Danielle smiled and tore open the medium sized jewelry box, “Mike,” she gasped taking the watch off of the small pillow, “It’s gorgeous.”
“Since you always borrow my watches, I’d figured I’d buy you your own,” he smiled.
“I love it,” she assured him, “I really do, thank you so much.”
Mike smiled when she came around the table and gave him a kiss, “I love you,” he said handing her the other box. Danielle gasped as she flipped the rectangular box open.
“Mike, how did you know,” she asked tearing up.
“Brooks told me,” he smiled gesturing for her to hand him the bracelet so that he could put it on her wrist.
“What’s the little girl for,” Danielle asked as Mike fastened it around her wrist.
“It’s the daughter we didn’t have yet,” he smiled and Danielle felt the breath hitch in her throat.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said, “Mike, you’re too good to me.”
“You’ve changed my life in so many ways, I used to hate coming home to an empty house now I look forward to coming home because you are there. I love you, Danielle, a lot.”
“I love you too,” she replied, “I built so many walls up around my heart but you broke them down. I did everything in my life ass backwards but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Neither would I,” Mike smiled as their food arrived.
They finished eating and were laughing talking about Nicky being so shy when Danielle reached into her purse and pulled out Mike’s gift.
“I couldn’t think of anything to get you but since you like stuff that looks rock and roll, I’d figured I’d get it for you.”
“I love it,” Mike said taking the black onyx and platinum bracelet out of the box, “I believe it or not was going to buy one of these sooner or later. Mike fastened the bracelet around his wrist and smiled, “I really love it.”
As their dinner finished up, Mike and Danielle drove back home to Arlington. Mike had one hand on the steering wheel and his right was holding Danielle’s hand. They pulled into the garage and made their way into the house. Walking down the hall to their bedroom, Mike held Danielle’s hand.
As Danielle washed her face clean of her make-up and brushed her teeth, Mike lit the candles that he had set up in the room and turned the lights down low. Grabbing the box of rose pedals under the bed, Mike put them on the floor from the bathroom to the bed. Pouring two glasses of red wine, one for him and one for Danielle who could only drink red wine during her pregnancy, he sat down on the bed and waited for her to come out.
Danielle stepped out of the bathroom shutting the light off behind her. Not bothering to close the robe she was wearing with her bra and underwear underneath, she gasped when she saw Mike smiling at her holding a wine glass.
“This kind of shit only happens in movies,” she joked causing Mike to laugh.
“Wow,” he gasped taking in the red bra and panties that she was wearing with her bump showing freely.
Mike’s free hand traced Danielle’s stomach lightly, “You look beautiful,” he whispered placing a kiss on her baby bump.
Danielle ran her fingers through Mike’s hair as he smiled up at her, Mike stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist before claiming his lips with hers. Danielle shivered as Mike ran his hands up and down her bare back.
“I want you Mike,” she whispered, “Please don’t stop me this time.”
“I wouldn’t have done all of this if I planned on stopping you, let me make love to you,” he replied pushing the robe off her shoulders.
Danielle gasped as his lips moved to her neck and his hands worked to unclasp her bra, “Mike,” she gasped as he ran his hands over her breasts before replacing them with his mouth.
Danielle pushed Mike back gently on the bed and crawled over him pressing her lips to his once more, “I love you,” she whispered before grabbing the waistband of his boxers. Mike kicked out of them and ran his index finger over the waistband of Danielle’s red lace panties.
“Not fair,” he mumbled as Danielle smirked against his lips and lifted herself up so Mike could remove them. Mike ran his fingers over her folds causing her to gasp before Danielle reached between them and grabbed Mike’s hard penis with her hand.
Placing at her slit, she ran it up and down before slowly lowing herself down on to him causing them both to groan, “Fuck,” she hissed as Mike thrusted into her fully.
“This doesn’t feel right,” he said flipping them over as he thrusted in and out slowly leaving Danielle to cry out for him to go faster.
“Oh God,” she gasped as he picked up his pace and sucked on her collar bone.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered.
Two hours later, Mike carefully collapsed on top of her. Placing soft kisses on her swollen lips, Mike ran his fingers through her hair.
“I love you,” he whispered as he and Danielle continued to kiss and get lost in their own little world that was soon joined by the first movement of their baby boy.
“Did you feel that,” Danielle asked Mike who smiled like he had just scored a breakaway goal on the best goalie in the league
“Yeah,” Mike smiled placing his hands over Danielle’s and Landon kicked again, “Even our son agrees that you’re mine today.”
Danielle smiled, “I hope I’m yours for more than just today.”
“You’re mine, always,” he smiled giving her a kiss before making love to the woman that he had been waiting for his whole life proving that Valentine’s Day really is for lovers.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Chapter 9-The Edge of Glory
Danielle gently traced the tattoo on Mike's left arm with her finger, "Why are you so fascinated with this," he asked smiling as he rolled over to face her.
"Shit," she muttered, "I had no idea that you were up."
"I've been up for about an hour now. Have you looked out the window at all?"
"No, I just woke up a little bit ago, why?"
"We're snowed in; luckily we are one of the few people that have power."
"How much snow is out there?"
"Almost three feet!"
"I'm used to it; however, I'm not used to having power."
Mike laughed before leaning down to give her a kiss, "Good morning," he said and Danielle smiled.
"Well, since we can't take your parents out today, I'll cook dinner and we'll figure out what else we can do. I say we build hockey playing snowmen."
"How old are you," Mike laughed.
"I'm 21 going on 4!"
"I kind of figured that," he said and Danielle punched him in the arm.
"Speak for yourself; you're the one with the scooter!"
“Touché,” Mike smiled pulling her close to him, “So, while we have nothing to do today and since I bought paint yesterday, how about we start painting Landon’s room?”
“I’m sure your parents won’t be okay with us kicking them out to paint.”
“My mom already helped my dad and brother rearrange the other guest room with a double bed and she moved everything out of it.”
“I was so worried that they were going to hate me, especially because we barely knew each other when I moved here and we jumped into a relationship. I could have been some gold digging psycho who was after you for your money.”
Mike turned Danielle’s face towards him and made her look him in the eyes, “We didn’t jump into anything, we got to know each other and we became friends. You’re different in so many ways than all of those other girls that I’ve dated. You’re having my baby too and that’s what makes me want to be with you even more, I’ve said it before, you’re not going nowhere for a long time.”
Danielle hugged him tightly and Mike kissed her forehead, “I don’t deserve you.”
Mike held her tight to his chest for a while before Megan walked in, “Hey guys, mom made breakfast.”
“We’ll be down in a minute,” Mike replied and his sister smiled before leaving him and Danielle alone.
“Can I just lay in bed all day?”
“Nope, you got to get up.”
“Your son is wearing me out!”
Mike smiled at “your son” and scooped Danielle up and carried her in the bathroom. Placing her in the bathtub, he turned on the hot water and smirked when she yelled in protest, “Oh look, you’re out of bed.”
“I’m going to kill you,” she hissed as she pulled her sweatshirt over her head, “You’re doing the laundry by the way.”
Mike just rolled his eyes while smirking and shut the door behind him as he went to shower in the room that was going to be Landon’s.
Mike walked in the room and saw the empty space and the crib that was now in the middle of the floor. He had purchased a crib the day before and Danielle didn’t know. Mike decided to lock himself in the room with his father and brother putting it together before he allowed Danielle to enter. He had also bought a dresser and everything Danielle said that they needed.
Mike made sure that his mom and sister were with Kiley out doing whatever it is women do when they go to a mall: shop, eat, gossip, etc. while he himself along with Brooks, his brother Matt, and his dad went looking for the stuff that Danielle had picked out.
Mike loaded everything into his Escalade and Brooks’ truck and they carried it into the room while the women were still out. Mike wouldn’t allow Danielle anywhere near the room until he decided to paint and the painting had to come after the furniture was put together.
Mike sighed and smiled to himself as he let the hot water run down his back. It was cold in the house which meant the heat was probably off since his mom was constantly complaining that she was hot. Mike closed his eyes and imagined what his son would look like.
“I’m turning into a chick,” he whispered shaking the thoughts from his head. Mike finished his shower and changed into one of his Capitals sweat suits.
Mike walked into the hall and saw Danielle was already one of the stools eating with Megan and Matt. His mom and dad were in the living room watching the weatherman go on and on about the snow.
“Still want to build those hockey playing snowmen,” he asked when the middle aged meteorologist said that it was zero degrees outside.
“I’ll put you out there with a hockey stick covered in snow if you keep making fun of me,” Danielle fired back causing the Green family to laugh.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mike said sitting down next to her at the counter. Mike pretended he was trying to steal some of Danielle’s eggs and he got a fork in his ribs, “Great, now you try to kill me.”
“Mhm, you’re worth more dead than you are alive amongst us Pens fans,” Danielle smirked.
“Whatever,” he replied cockily smirking causing her to roll her eyes.
Danielle helped Kate and Megan clean the kitchen and once everything was done, Mike led her down the hall towards the guestroom.
“Close your eyes,” he said holding her hand as he opened the door, “Alright, now open them.”
Danielle slowly opened her eyes and saw the room that looked almost complete besides the fact that it needed painted and the mural needed to be done.
“Oh my God,” she managed to get out before she wiped the tear away from her eye, “Mike!”
“I got all of the furniture while you were out yesterday. Brooks, Matt, and my dad helped me put it together. Nicky is bringing the rocking chair over as soon as the snow melts a little bit, it’s at his house.”
“I don’t know what to say!”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Mike assured her as he kissed her forehead, “We just have to get the mural done. I didn’t really buy paint; I’m still looking for an artist to do it. I’m going to give my tattoo guy a call and see if he knows anybody good that can come out and do it.”
“Mike…thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” he replied, “Danielle; I’m going to be honest right now. The past three months have been crazy for us but you know what, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“Neither would I,” Danielle replied as Mike put his hands on her hips and gave her a kiss.
“I’m falling in love with you, Danielle,” he admitted, “I don’t want to scare you off but I’m quickly falling head over heels for you. I’ve never felt this way before.”
Danielle smiled, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before either.”
Mike smiled and gave her another kiss, “What do you say we call Alex and you can talk his ears off about your costumes for the concert?”
“You’re amazing,” she gushed grabbing Mike’s iPhone out of his hoodie pocket and heading into the living room.
“I love you,” he whispered hoping she’d hear him but she didn’t as she skipped off down the hall talking to Alex on the phone.
A couple of days later, the roads were clear and the snow was slowly melting as the sun glistened down over Arlington. Mike’s family said their goodbyes to Danielle promising to see her soon.
“Kristi and I are heading home to Pittsburgh for a couple of days to visit and we’ll be back the day before the concert. You guys have back to back games against the Lightning and the Panthers down in Florida.”
“I know, I’m leaving with them straight from the airport. Brooks is picking us up. Feel free to take the Escalade if you’d like since it’ll probably go better if you hit snow on the turnpike.”
“Kristi’s bringing Nicky’s truck,” Danielle replied, “We’ll be fine.”
“Alright,” Mike said as Brooks pulled up honking the horn, “I’ll call you when we land.”
“I’ll call you when we get home. If I don’t answer when you call, I’m probably sleeping.”
“Behave yourself,” Mike said giving her a kiss, “I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Good luck and bring home some of that Florida weather,” Danielle said as she waved goodbye to Mike and his family.
Mike had worked with Kristi to plan the trip to Pittsburgh since he had an artist flying in from Toronto to work on the mural in Landon’s room. Kiley was staying at the house while the artist worked on the wall. Kristi texted her letting her know she was on her way to pick her up. Danielle grabbed her duffle bag that she had found in Mike’s closet and bundled herself up before heading outside.
Kristi was just pulling up as Danielle locked the door behind her and the two young women began their trip back to the Steel City. Kristi sent Kiley a text letting her know they were on their way so that she could go to the house.
After arriving back home from his road trip, Mike found Kiley sleeping on the couch. Brooks walked in behind him and flopped down on his fiancée.
“You motherfucker,” Kiley said trying to fight Brooks off of her.
“Come on babe, you know you can’t resist me,” he said as he gave her a kiss. Mike rolled his eyes and walked down the hall and noticed the door had a skull on the door with crisscrossed hockey sticks.
Slowly opening the door, Mike saw that the entire room was now complete and he thought the mural looked even better than it was supposed to. The room had three red walls and a wall that was made to look like the ice at Verizon Center with a jersey at center ice. The back of a little boy was standing in the runway holding his hand with a matching jersey that read, “Green 52.”
Mike’s heart swelled up with pride as he imagined teaching his son how to skate. The whole fatherhood thing was beginning to be even more exciting to him as time went on. Brooks walked in the room and looked around in awe, “Greener, this looks great.”
“I know, I can’t wait until Danielle sees it.”
“When is she coming back,” Brooks asked.
“Early tomorrow morning then we’re all going to the concert tomorrow night.”
“Kiley and I are going to head out, see you tomorrow,” Brooks said shaking Mike’s hand before leaving.
Mike gave Danielle a call and they talked for a little bit before hanging up so Mike could go to bed.
Danielle arrived home the next day and noticed the skull and crisscrossed hockey sticks on the door and laughed before walking into her and Mike’s bedroom. Mike had his back against the headboard and was watching Sportscenter.
“Hey,” she said giving him a kiss.
“I have a surprise for you,” he replied standing up.
“Oh yeah?”
Mike grabbed her hand and just like the morning a couple of days prior, he led her to the room that was Landon’s.
“I had something done while you were gone,” he said opening the door and Danielle gasped.
“Mike, it’s beautiful,” she said noticing the finished room, “It’s absolutely better than what I imagined. I honestly cannot thank you enough. This is wow.”
“Look at Landon,” Mike said as he pointed to the silhouette of him holding small little boy’s hand as they walked down the runway.
“It’s beautiful,” Danielle replied running her fingers over it, “I’m glad you talked me into the silhouette instead of the big jersey with Landon’s name.”
Danielle gave Mike a hug as they stood in the middle of their son’s room. A knock at the door broke them away from each other and when Mike answered it, Alex bounced in followed by Sasha. They were carrying three garment bags and Mike could only imagine what was in them.
Mike sat in his living room later on that night laughing at Danielle telling Alex and Sasha to sit steal so that she could finish their eyeliner and their hair, “Then they wonder why everyone thinks they’re gay,” he said to himself as Alex complained his eyeliner wasn’t even.
“I’m gonna marry the night, I’m not gonna cry anymore” they all began singing and Mike threw his head back regretting ever getting the tickets.
“Mike,” Danielle said walking down the hall, “We’re ready to go.”
Mike turned around and his eyes went wide in horror as he noticed their outfits, “You all look like freaks.”
Danielle had a rubber steak on her head and she had a fake meat dress on her body with an ultrasound picture on her stomach that had a baby with his hand up like he was a “little monster.” Alex was wearing a feather mohawk and glitter around his eyes with eyeliner while wearing spikes and plat formed boots with tight white pants. Sasha’s outfit was the same and Mike looked at his outfit thanking God he decided to go with the white sweater and jeans. At least he looked normal.
When they got to the Verizon Center, Mike was amazed that the three people he was currently in the car with weren’t the only ones dressed like morons. As they pulled into the player garage, Mike rolled his eyes as Danielle, Alex, and Sasha took pictures with the production trucks with Lady Gaga’s face on them.
When they got inside, Brooks rolled his eyes at the costumes and started laughing before he took pictures of them. He was dressed in skin tight male dominatrix leather thanks to Kiley.
Kiley, Kristi, Nicky, and even Brooks were dressed for the occasion with leather and studs everywhere. Mike was surprised Nicky talked Kristi into going since she hated Lady Gaga.
The show began and Mike wanted to shoot himself by the middle of the concert when Alex and Sasha were semi drunk and were belting out the lyrics to every song with Danielle who danced around the suite.
“Thank God I have ear plugs,” Brooks said sitting next to Mike.
“I’m embarrassed to be in the same suite with them right now.”
Brooks smiled at Mike and patted him on the back as Alex, Sasha, and Danielle sang “Judas” at the top of their lungs like idiots.
The last song of the night was “The Edge of Glory” and Danielle came over to Mike and gave him a hug, “Thank you so much for bringing me, I’ve had a really great time.”
Mike couldn’t deny that although he wanted to kill himself throughout the entire concert, the look on Danielle’s face was priceless.
“You’re welcome,” he whispered in her ear. Danielle turned around to go back to her seat when Mike wrapped his arms around her from behind with his hands on her stomach and Danielle danced against him to the song.
When the song was in the middle of the saxophone solo and the chorus started again, Mike whispered the three words that he had been dying to say to Danielle since his family was in town.
As Lady Gaga sang about being on the edge of glory and hanging on a moment of truth while being on the edge with the person she loved, Danielle felt her heart race as the three words slipped off of Mike’s tongue, “I love you, Danielle.”
Danielle turned around and wrapped her arms around him, “I love you too,” she replied giving him a kiss.
Something, something about just knowing when it’s right
There’s something about baby Yoü and I
"Shit," she muttered, "I had no idea that you were up."
"I've been up for about an hour now. Have you looked out the window at all?"
"No, I just woke up a little bit ago, why?"
"We're snowed in; luckily we are one of the few people that have power."
"How much snow is out there?"
"Almost three feet!"
"I'm used to it; however, I'm not used to having power."
Mike laughed before leaning down to give her a kiss, "Good morning," he said and Danielle smiled.
"Well, since we can't take your parents out today, I'll cook dinner and we'll figure out what else we can do. I say we build hockey playing snowmen."
"How old are you," Mike laughed.
"I'm 21 going on 4!"
"I kind of figured that," he said and Danielle punched him in the arm.
"Speak for yourself; you're the one with the scooter!"
“Touché,” Mike smiled pulling her close to him, “So, while we have nothing to do today and since I bought paint yesterday, how about we start painting Landon’s room?”
“I’m sure your parents won’t be okay with us kicking them out to paint.”
“My mom already helped my dad and brother rearrange the other guest room with a double bed and she moved everything out of it.”
“I was so worried that they were going to hate me, especially because we barely knew each other when I moved here and we jumped into a relationship. I could have been some gold digging psycho who was after you for your money.”
Mike turned Danielle’s face towards him and made her look him in the eyes, “We didn’t jump into anything, we got to know each other and we became friends. You’re different in so many ways than all of those other girls that I’ve dated. You’re having my baby too and that’s what makes me want to be with you even more, I’ve said it before, you’re not going nowhere for a long time.”
Danielle hugged him tightly and Mike kissed her forehead, “I don’t deserve you.”
Mike held her tight to his chest for a while before Megan walked in, “Hey guys, mom made breakfast.”
“We’ll be down in a minute,” Mike replied and his sister smiled before leaving him and Danielle alone.
“Can I just lay in bed all day?”
“Nope, you got to get up.”
“Your son is wearing me out!”
Mike smiled at “your son” and scooped Danielle up and carried her in the bathroom. Placing her in the bathtub, he turned on the hot water and smirked when she yelled in protest, “Oh look, you’re out of bed.”
“I’m going to kill you,” she hissed as she pulled her sweatshirt over her head, “You’re doing the laundry by the way.”
Mike just rolled his eyes while smirking and shut the door behind him as he went to shower in the room that was going to be Landon’s.
Mike walked in the room and saw the empty space and the crib that was now in the middle of the floor. He had purchased a crib the day before and Danielle didn’t know. Mike decided to lock himself in the room with his father and brother putting it together before he allowed Danielle to enter. He had also bought a dresser and everything Danielle said that they needed.
Mike made sure that his mom and sister were with Kiley out doing whatever it is women do when they go to a mall: shop, eat, gossip, etc. while he himself along with Brooks, his brother Matt, and his dad went looking for the stuff that Danielle had picked out.
Mike loaded everything into his Escalade and Brooks’ truck and they carried it into the room while the women were still out. Mike wouldn’t allow Danielle anywhere near the room until he decided to paint and the painting had to come after the furniture was put together.
Mike sighed and smiled to himself as he let the hot water run down his back. It was cold in the house which meant the heat was probably off since his mom was constantly complaining that she was hot. Mike closed his eyes and imagined what his son would look like.
“I’m turning into a chick,” he whispered shaking the thoughts from his head. Mike finished his shower and changed into one of his Capitals sweat suits.
Mike walked into the hall and saw Danielle was already one of the stools eating with Megan and Matt. His mom and dad were in the living room watching the weatherman go on and on about the snow.
“Still want to build those hockey playing snowmen,” he asked when the middle aged meteorologist said that it was zero degrees outside.
“I’ll put you out there with a hockey stick covered in snow if you keep making fun of me,” Danielle fired back causing the Green family to laugh.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mike said sitting down next to her at the counter. Mike pretended he was trying to steal some of Danielle’s eggs and he got a fork in his ribs, “Great, now you try to kill me.”
“Mhm, you’re worth more dead than you are alive amongst us Pens fans,” Danielle smirked.
“Whatever,” he replied cockily smirking causing her to roll her eyes.
Danielle helped Kate and Megan clean the kitchen and once everything was done, Mike led her down the hall towards the guestroom.
“Close your eyes,” he said holding her hand as he opened the door, “Alright, now open them.”
Danielle slowly opened her eyes and saw the room that looked almost complete besides the fact that it needed painted and the mural needed to be done.
“Oh my God,” she managed to get out before she wiped the tear away from her eye, “Mike!”
“I got all of the furniture while you were out yesterday. Brooks, Matt, and my dad helped me put it together. Nicky is bringing the rocking chair over as soon as the snow melts a little bit, it’s at his house.”
“I don’t know what to say!”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Mike assured her as he kissed her forehead, “We just have to get the mural done. I didn’t really buy paint; I’m still looking for an artist to do it. I’m going to give my tattoo guy a call and see if he knows anybody good that can come out and do it.”
“Mike…thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” he replied, “Danielle; I’m going to be honest right now. The past three months have been crazy for us but you know what, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“Neither would I,” Danielle replied as Mike put his hands on her hips and gave her a kiss.
“I’m falling in love with you, Danielle,” he admitted, “I don’t want to scare you off but I’m quickly falling head over heels for you. I’ve never felt this way before.”
Danielle smiled, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before either.”
Mike smiled and gave her another kiss, “What do you say we call Alex and you can talk his ears off about your costumes for the concert?”
“You’re amazing,” she gushed grabbing Mike’s iPhone out of his hoodie pocket and heading into the living room.
“I love you,” he whispered hoping she’d hear him but she didn’t as she skipped off down the hall talking to Alex on the phone.
A couple of days later, the roads were clear and the snow was slowly melting as the sun glistened down over Arlington. Mike’s family said their goodbyes to Danielle promising to see her soon.
“Kristi and I are heading home to Pittsburgh for a couple of days to visit and we’ll be back the day before the concert. You guys have back to back games against the Lightning and the Panthers down in Florida.”
“I know, I’m leaving with them straight from the airport. Brooks is picking us up. Feel free to take the Escalade if you’d like since it’ll probably go better if you hit snow on the turnpike.”
“Kristi’s bringing Nicky’s truck,” Danielle replied, “We’ll be fine.”
“Alright,” Mike said as Brooks pulled up honking the horn, “I’ll call you when we land.”
“I’ll call you when we get home. If I don’t answer when you call, I’m probably sleeping.”
“Behave yourself,” Mike said giving her a kiss, “I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Good luck and bring home some of that Florida weather,” Danielle said as she waved goodbye to Mike and his family.
Mike had worked with Kristi to plan the trip to Pittsburgh since he had an artist flying in from Toronto to work on the mural in Landon’s room. Kiley was staying at the house while the artist worked on the wall. Kristi texted her letting her know she was on her way to pick her up. Danielle grabbed her duffle bag that she had found in Mike’s closet and bundled herself up before heading outside.
Kristi was just pulling up as Danielle locked the door behind her and the two young women began their trip back to the Steel City. Kristi sent Kiley a text letting her know they were on their way so that she could go to the house.
After arriving back home from his road trip, Mike found Kiley sleeping on the couch. Brooks walked in behind him and flopped down on his fiancée.
“You motherfucker,” Kiley said trying to fight Brooks off of her.
“Come on babe, you know you can’t resist me,” he said as he gave her a kiss. Mike rolled his eyes and walked down the hall and noticed the door had a skull on the door with crisscrossed hockey sticks.
Slowly opening the door, Mike saw that the entire room was now complete and he thought the mural looked even better than it was supposed to. The room had three red walls and a wall that was made to look like the ice at Verizon Center with a jersey at center ice. The back of a little boy was standing in the runway holding his hand with a matching jersey that read, “Green 52.”
Mike’s heart swelled up with pride as he imagined teaching his son how to skate. The whole fatherhood thing was beginning to be even more exciting to him as time went on. Brooks walked in the room and looked around in awe, “Greener, this looks great.”
“I know, I can’t wait until Danielle sees it.”
“When is she coming back,” Brooks asked.
“Early tomorrow morning then we’re all going to the concert tomorrow night.”
“Kiley and I are going to head out, see you tomorrow,” Brooks said shaking Mike’s hand before leaving.
Mike gave Danielle a call and they talked for a little bit before hanging up so Mike could go to bed.
Danielle arrived home the next day and noticed the skull and crisscrossed hockey sticks on the door and laughed before walking into her and Mike’s bedroom. Mike had his back against the headboard and was watching Sportscenter.
“Hey,” she said giving him a kiss.
“I have a surprise for you,” he replied standing up.
“Oh yeah?”
Mike grabbed her hand and just like the morning a couple of days prior, he led her to the room that was Landon’s.
“I had something done while you were gone,” he said opening the door and Danielle gasped.
“Mike, it’s beautiful,” she said noticing the finished room, “It’s absolutely better than what I imagined. I honestly cannot thank you enough. This is wow.”
“Look at Landon,” Mike said as he pointed to the silhouette of him holding small little boy’s hand as they walked down the runway.
“It’s beautiful,” Danielle replied running her fingers over it, “I’m glad you talked me into the silhouette instead of the big jersey with Landon’s name.”
Danielle gave Mike a hug as they stood in the middle of their son’s room. A knock at the door broke them away from each other and when Mike answered it, Alex bounced in followed by Sasha. They were carrying three garment bags and Mike could only imagine what was in them.
Mike sat in his living room later on that night laughing at Danielle telling Alex and Sasha to sit steal so that she could finish their eyeliner and their hair, “Then they wonder why everyone thinks they’re gay,” he said to himself as Alex complained his eyeliner wasn’t even.
“I’m gonna marry the night, I’m not gonna cry anymore” they all began singing and Mike threw his head back regretting ever getting the tickets.
“Mike,” Danielle said walking down the hall, “We’re ready to go.”
Mike turned around and his eyes went wide in horror as he noticed their outfits, “You all look like freaks.”
Danielle had a rubber steak on her head and she had a fake meat dress on her body with an ultrasound picture on her stomach that had a baby with his hand up like he was a “little monster.” Alex was wearing a feather mohawk and glitter around his eyes with eyeliner while wearing spikes and plat formed boots with tight white pants. Sasha’s outfit was the same and Mike looked at his outfit thanking God he decided to go with the white sweater and jeans. At least he looked normal.
When they got to the Verizon Center, Mike was amazed that the three people he was currently in the car with weren’t the only ones dressed like morons. As they pulled into the player garage, Mike rolled his eyes as Danielle, Alex, and Sasha took pictures with the production trucks with Lady Gaga’s face on them.
When they got inside, Brooks rolled his eyes at the costumes and started laughing before he took pictures of them. He was dressed in skin tight male dominatrix leather thanks to Kiley.
Kiley, Kristi, Nicky, and even Brooks were dressed for the occasion with leather and studs everywhere. Mike was surprised Nicky talked Kristi into going since she hated Lady Gaga.
The show began and Mike wanted to shoot himself by the middle of the concert when Alex and Sasha were semi drunk and were belting out the lyrics to every song with Danielle who danced around the suite.
“Thank God I have ear plugs,” Brooks said sitting next to Mike.
“I’m embarrassed to be in the same suite with them right now.”
Brooks smiled at Mike and patted him on the back as Alex, Sasha, and Danielle sang “Judas” at the top of their lungs like idiots.
The last song of the night was “The Edge of Glory” and Danielle came over to Mike and gave him a hug, “Thank you so much for bringing me, I’ve had a really great time.”
Mike couldn’t deny that although he wanted to kill himself throughout the entire concert, the look on Danielle’s face was priceless.
“You’re welcome,” he whispered in her ear. Danielle turned around to go back to her seat when Mike wrapped his arms around her from behind with his hands on her stomach and Danielle danced against him to the song.
When the song was in the middle of the saxophone solo and the chorus started again, Mike whispered the three words that he had been dying to say to Danielle since his family was in town.
As Lady Gaga sang about being on the edge of glory and hanging on a moment of truth while being on the edge with the person she loved, Danielle felt her heart race as the three words slipped off of Mike’s tongue, “I love you, Danielle.”
Danielle turned around and wrapped her arms around him, “I love you too,” she replied giving him a kiss.
Something, something about just knowing when it’s right
There’s something about baby Yoü and I
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Chapter 8-Yoü and I
Mike knew that he was going to regret this but the smile on Danielle’s face was going to be priceless. Ovi was planning his and Danielle’s outfits as Mike drove home from a long day at the rink. Danielle had woke up and wasn’t feeling well and Mike went to his morning skate before the Caps played the Kings in an afternoon matinee at Verizon Center.
Mike wasn’t even sure if she had known that Lady Gaga was coming to town. He knew she had saw her three times before back in Pittsburgh, one of those being a few weeks before Mike had saw her at the game where he discovered she was pregnant. It was no secret that Danielle was a huge fan of the woman who called herself, “Mother Monster.”
Mike laughed as he pulled into the garage and thought about the time Ovi and Sasha came over to visit when Danielle first came down to DC before she made her decision to move permanently to be with Mike and they forced him to watch the DVD of Lady Gaga live at Madison Square Garden. Mike can remember the three of them yelling, “SILICON! SALINE! POISON! INJECT ME! BABY, I’M A FREE BITCH!!” Since then Danielle had made Mike watch the DVD repeatedly like she was a small child wanting to keep watching their favorite Wiggles movie.
Mike felt the tickets in his back pocket and smiled as he called out to Danielle when he entered the house through the side door. Sure enough, Danielle was sitting on the couch with a bowl of ice cream on her four and a half months pregnant stomach singing along with “Yoü and I,” a song that wasn’t new to him since Danielle sang it every single day. It was her favorite song and Mike knew that the song would mean a lot to both of them one day but he shook his head as he leaned down over Danielle and took the bowl causing her to punch him in the shoulder.
“OW,” he laughed taking a bite of the chocolate ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream.
“You douche bag, that’s my fucking ice cream.”
“Hello to you too,” he smirked as Danielle pouted and Mike held the bowl over her head licking his lips, but since Danielle was tall herself, she took the bowl from him and kicked his shin.
“What the hell has gotten into you?”
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to take a pregnant woman’s ice cream?”
Mike laughed and sat down on the couch next to her.
"I don't remember telling you could that you could sit down next to me."
"Well, excuse me; can I sit down next to you?"
"You're a douche bag!"
Mike laughed and pulled the envelope from his back pocket.
"What douche bag would get these for you?"
"OH MY GOD," Danielle shrieked, "MIKE, YOU DIDN'T!"
"No, I didn't," he replied, "We got some free tickets, Ovi and Sasha are going to. Nicky is begging Kristi to go since she wants no parts of it."
"I can't believe we're going," Danielle shrieked climbing over Mike. She sat on his lap, straddling him.
Mike swallowed hard as Danielle leaned down to give him a kiss.
"Thank you," she whispered moving her lips to his neck.
"Danielle," he gasped, "Stop."
Their relationship was still new and even though Danielle was pregnant, Mike didn't want to rush into anything.
"But Mike, I'm horny."
Mike laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, "God, I know, so am I and I really want to do this…but not yet."
Danielle decided to change the subject and quickly mentioned Mike’s mom, Kate calling while he was at practice, "When were you planning on telling me that your parents were coming to visit? Your mom called today and said that they're landing at one, so you would know what time to pick them up from the airport."
"It was supposed to be a surprise but yeah, they're coming. They were supposed to be here last week but my mom had to work."
"I wish you would have told me that so I could go grocery shopping to make dinner for them their first night here."
“My brother and sister are coming too.”
“I never knew you had a brother and a sister.”
“Not many people know that I do, I keep a lot of stuff private. For example, when Landon is born, we aren’t going to post any pictures or anything at first. I don’t want huge attention drawn to it because people will make up their own stories about everything.”
“They already did and I’m pretty sure the nurse at the doctor’s office last week tried to get us to admit the truth so she could sell the story to the media.”
“People are going to say a lot of stuff about you, I know you know that but just know that no matter what, I’m going to be here for you.”
“I know,” Danielle smiled as Mike hugged her closer to him.
“Are you feeling better,” he asked kissing her forehead.
“A little bit,” she replied nuzzling her face into Mike’s neck.
“Want to go to dinner tonight?”
“That’d be nice,” Danielle said looking up and kissing his jaw.
“I’m sorry that we can’t spend more time together. I always feel bad for leaving you by yourself so much.”
“I love being alone sometimes, in Pittsburgh; I stayed in my room sometimes just to have peace and clear my head.”
“Do you have any favorite restaurants here yet? I know that you and Kiley eat out a lot when Brooks and I are on the road.”
“That place down on Wilson Boulevard is to die for. It’s called Village Bistro.”
“Go get dressed, we’ll go.”
“I am dressed,” Danielle whined.
“I’ve been to that place before and I don’t think sweatpants and a hoodie is in the dress code.”
“You’re no fun,” she replied sticking out her tongue before giving him a kiss on the cheek when she stood up to go get changed.
“Take a shower too, you stink,” Mike joked.
“Suck my dick!”
Mike laughed as Danielle walked down the hall towards the guest bedroom that would be where his parents would staying tomorrow. Mike’s brother and sister were coming as well and they each had their own room.
“Dani,” he said walking into the bedroom, “I have to talk to you about something,”
“What,” she asked coming out of the bathroom fastening a gold hoop earring. She had bought maternity clothes and Mike loved the coral colored hooded long sleeved tunic top she was wearing with boot cut jeans and her hair was in a pony tail.
“You look great,” he smiled as she looked at her reflection in the mirror attached to the dresser.
“Thank you!”
“I have something to tell you and please, don’t kill me.”
“You’re kicking me out?”
“God, no,” Mike laughed, “But I thought that I should let you know that my parents are going to be sleeping in your room when they come.”
“That’s fine; I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s no problem, it’s better for my back at night anyways.”
“You’re not sleeping on the couch.”
“Then where am I going to sleep?”
“In my room with me and I’m not taking no for an answer. We’re both adults, and if I’m not mistaken, we’re having a baby together. It’s not like we’ve never slept in the same bed before, I mean when we first had sex, we slept in the same bed. Then you fell asleep two nights in a row in my room and didn’t have a problem with it.”
“Stop blabbering, God, you are worse than a teenage boy seeing boobs for a first time. I’ll sleep with you but I want to be the little spoon,” Danielle smirked.
“I can handle that,” Mike said as Danielle pulled on her boots.
“Did you see we’re supposed to get like two feet of snow tomorrow night into Thursday morning?”
“We’re going to get it, we get it every year.”
“Yay! Snow day,” Danielle said excitedly while clapping her hands
“Really,” Mike said smiling, “You are worse than a five year old.”
“When’s the concert?”
“Next weekend!”
“I’m so excited!”
“I know you are, I know how much you love her and I figured you needed some time out of the house so I got the tickets. Alex is making your outfit.”
“I love dressing for her concerts, it’s amazing.”
“Just don’t go overboard.”
“There is no such thing as overboard at a Lady Gaga concert. Speaking of which, you are totally wearing eyeliner because you are fucking sexy with it.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Mike laughed.
“I wonder what Alex has up his sleeves,” Danielle said.
“I wish I could tell you but I honestly don’t know, are you ready to go? I’m pretty hungry!”
“Yep, let’s go,” she replied grabbing her coat from the bed.
“Here, let me help you.”
Mike grabbed the coat from Danielle and held it open as she slid her arms into the sleeves. Mike handed her the scarf from the dresser and the matching hat.
“You’re having a baby with a Capital and you steal wear your Pens stuff,” he smiled while shaking his head in disbelief.
“Hey, just because you’re my son’s father doesn’t mean I’m turning to the dark side. Loyalties lie, Greene.”
“We’ll just have to change that.”
“Mhm, we’ll see about that,” Danielle smirked blowing him a kiss before heading out of the room. Mike grabbed his coat from the chair in the living room and grabbed the keys to the Escalade. Taking Danielle’s hand in his, he lead her outside.
They drove talking about their plans for the baby’s room which they both wanted a hockey themed nursery. Danielle saw a design in a magazine that she liked and Mike said he’d hire someone to help them work on it. The walls were going to be sky blue and on one wall was going to be a hockey rink mural complete with a jersey on one wall bearing Landon’s name and Mike’s number.
They pulled into the restaurant and were seated at a booth in the back where they discussed the plans for what they were going to do with Mike’s family during the week. Mike said they could take them sightseeing in the city if the weather allowed when he had off days, as well as going to the five game home stand that the Caps had coming up before they headed out on the road for the week.
When they came back home, Danielle helped Mike clean the house a little bit. They washed the sheets on the beds in the guest rooms and moved all of Danielle’s things into Mike’s room. Mike had more than enough room in his closet and he was more than happy to help Danielle hang her clothes next to his. For the first time in a long time, Mike finally felt like he was getting the family of his own that he always wanted but never thought he’d have.
It was close to midnight when they finished everything up and Mike headed to bed because he had practice and early at eight am. Danielle went online for a little while and ordered things for Landon’s room and a couple of outfits from Carter’s that she thought were cute.
She put the laptop on Mike’s nightstand and turned the lamp off before she curled up and tried to sleep. Mike reached out and put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, “Goodnight,” he whispered sleepily kissing her cheek lightly.
“Goodnight,” she replied shutting her eyes and she soon fell asleep.
Danielle woke up the next day to an empty bed but for the first time in a long time, she got a good night’s sleep. Mike left her a note in the kitchen letting her know what time he would be home and that when he returned, he’d have his family with him.
Danielle made herself something to eat before she took a shower and got dressed for the day. She looked in the cabinet and found a box of cake mix and a can of icing and decided to busy herself by making a cake for Mike’s family. Mike said she wasn’t allowed to cook while they were here but he never said she couldn’t bake.
Danielle set the time on the oven and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. When she was done, the cake was finished and she just had to let it cool before she put the chocolate icing on it. She was finishing up washing the cake pan when she heard the door open and saw Mike come in carrying a suitcase followed by two women and two men.
“Hey,” Mike said walking into the kitchen, “What’d you make, it smells good?”
“I made a chocolate cake, I wanted your family to have something to eat and well since you wouldn’t let me cook them anything, I baked.”
“Looks great,” he replied giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Mike, she’s even more beautiful than you described,” Kate said walking into the kitchen, “You must be Danielle,” she said hugging her.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she replied smiling, “I’ve heard wonderful things about you.”
“Look at you,” Kate gushed, “You’re glowing.”
Danielle smiled and Mike put his arm around her waist, “Michael, you look so happy,” Kate gushed again, “My first grandbaby, I’m so excited.”
“My dad, my brother, and my sister are in the living room,” Mike said, “Want to meet them?”
“No, I think I’ll ignore them the entire time they’re here. Of course, I want to meet them,” Danielle joked elbowing Mike in the stomach.
“I like her,” Kate laughed as they walked into the living room.
“Everybody, this is Danielle,” Mike said, “Danielle, that’s my dad, Dave; my sister, Megan; and my brother, Matt.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Danielle replied shaking their hands.
“I still can’t believe my little brother knocked someone up,” Matt said causing Kate to slap him behind his head.
“Language, Matthew,” she scolded.
“I finally have someone to go shopping with,” Megan said, “You have no idea what it was like growing up with two brothers.”
Danielle laughed before they all fell into conversations about where they wanted to go for dinner, Mike looked at Danielle talking and laughing with his family when he went to get something to drink in the kitchen. He never saw his family warm up to any of his girlfriends the way they warmed up to Danielle.
Kate and his ex-girlfriend butted heads about everything and they never got along. His sister hated her and his brother said she saw her flirting with one of Mike’s old teammates from back home but Mike ignored them and sure enough, he came home from a road trip and caught her in bed with her doctor.
Danielle looked up and made eye contact with Mike and he felt like it was déjà vu, she had done that when he first met her family and was talking with her uncles at her house. Mike smiled back and headed back into the living room. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought that the next time they were all together, his baby boy would be in his arms.
Mike wasn’t even sure if she had known that Lady Gaga was coming to town. He knew she had saw her three times before back in Pittsburgh, one of those being a few weeks before Mike had saw her at the game where he discovered she was pregnant. It was no secret that Danielle was a huge fan of the woman who called herself, “Mother Monster.”
Mike laughed as he pulled into the garage and thought about the time Ovi and Sasha came over to visit when Danielle first came down to DC before she made her decision to move permanently to be with Mike and they forced him to watch the DVD of Lady Gaga live at Madison Square Garden. Mike can remember the three of them yelling, “SILICON! SALINE! POISON! INJECT ME! BABY, I’M A FREE BITCH!!” Since then Danielle had made Mike watch the DVD repeatedly like she was a small child wanting to keep watching their favorite Wiggles movie.
Mike felt the tickets in his back pocket and smiled as he called out to Danielle when he entered the house through the side door. Sure enough, Danielle was sitting on the couch with a bowl of ice cream on her four and a half months pregnant stomach singing along with “Yoü and I,” a song that wasn’t new to him since Danielle sang it every single day. It was her favorite song and Mike knew that the song would mean a lot to both of them one day but he shook his head as he leaned down over Danielle and took the bowl causing her to punch him in the shoulder.
“OW,” he laughed taking a bite of the chocolate ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream.
“You douche bag, that’s my fucking ice cream.”
“Hello to you too,” he smirked as Danielle pouted and Mike held the bowl over her head licking his lips, but since Danielle was tall herself, she took the bowl from him and kicked his shin.
“What the hell has gotten into you?”
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to take a pregnant woman’s ice cream?”
Mike laughed and sat down on the couch next to her.
"I don't remember telling you could that you could sit down next to me."
"Well, excuse me; can I sit down next to you?"
"You're a douche bag!"
Mike laughed and pulled the envelope from his back pocket.
"What douche bag would get these for you?"
"OH MY GOD," Danielle shrieked, "MIKE, YOU DIDN'T!"
"No, I didn't," he replied, "We got some free tickets, Ovi and Sasha are going to. Nicky is begging Kristi to go since she wants no parts of it."
"I can't believe we're going," Danielle shrieked climbing over Mike. She sat on his lap, straddling him.
Mike swallowed hard as Danielle leaned down to give him a kiss.
"Thank you," she whispered moving her lips to his neck.
"Danielle," he gasped, "Stop."
Their relationship was still new and even though Danielle was pregnant, Mike didn't want to rush into anything.
"But Mike, I'm horny."
Mike laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, "God, I know, so am I and I really want to do this…but not yet."
Danielle decided to change the subject and quickly mentioned Mike’s mom, Kate calling while he was at practice, "When were you planning on telling me that your parents were coming to visit? Your mom called today and said that they're landing at one, so you would know what time to pick them up from the airport."
"It was supposed to be a surprise but yeah, they're coming. They were supposed to be here last week but my mom had to work."
"I wish you would have told me that so I could go grocery shopping to make dinner for them their first night here."
“My brother and sister are coming too.”
“I never knew you had a brother and a sister.”
“Not many people know that I do, I keep a lot of stuff private. For example, when Landon is born, we aren’t going to post any pictures or anything at first. I don’t want huge attention drawn to it because people will make up their own stories about everything.”
“They already did and I’m pretty sure the nurse at the doctor’s office last week tried to get us to admit the truth so she could sell the story to the media.”
“People are going to say a lot of stuff about you, I know you know that but just know that no matter what, I’m going to be here for you.”
“I know,” Danielle smiled as Mike hugged her closer to him.
“Are you feeling better,” he asked kissing her forehead.
“A little bit,” she replied nuzzling her face into Mike’s neck.
“Want to go to dinner tonight?”
“That’d be nice,” Danielle said looking up and kissing his jaw.
“I’m sorry that we can’t spend more time together. I always feel bad for leaving you by yourself so much.”
“I love being alone sometimes, in Pittsburgh; I stayed in my room sometimes just to have peace and clear my head.”
“Do you have any favorite restaurants here yet? I know that you and Kiley eat out a lot when Brooks and I are on the road.”
“That place down on Wilson Boulevard is to die for. It’s called Village Bistro.”
“Go get dressed, we’ll go.”
“I am dressed,” Danielle whined.
“I’ve been to that place before and I don’t think sweatpants and a hoodie is in the dress code.”
“You’re no fun,” she replied sticking out her tongue before giving him a kiss on the cheek when she stood up to go get changed.
“Take a shower too, you stink,” Mike joked.
“Suck my dick!”
Mike laughed as Danielle walked down the hall towards the guest bedroom that would be where his parents would staying tomorrow. Mike’s brother and sister were coming as well and they each had their own room.
“Dani,” he said walking into the bedroom, “I have to talk to you about something,”
“What,” she asked coming out of the bathroom fastening a gold hoop earring. She had bought maternity clothes and Mike loved the coral colored hooded long sleeved tunic top she was wearing with boot cut jeans and her hair was in a pony tail.
“You look great,” he smiled as she looked at her reflection in the mirror attached to the dresser.
“Thank you!”
“I have something to tell you and please, don’t kill me.”
“You’re kicking me out?”
“God, no,” Mike laughed, “But I thought that I should let you know that my parents are going to be sleeping in your room when they come.”
“That’s fine; I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s no problem, it’s better for my back at night anyways.”
“You’re not sleeping on the couch.”
“Then where am I going to sleep?”
“In my room with me and I’m not taking no for an answer. We’re both adults, and if I’m not mistaken, we’re having a baby together. It’s not like we’ve never slept in the same bed before, I mean when we first had sex, we slept in the same bed. Then you fell asleep two nights in a row in my room and didn’t have a problem with it.”
“Stop blabbering, God, you are worse than a teenage boy seeing boobs for a first time. I’ll sleep with you but I want to be the little spoon,” Danielle smirked.
“I can handle that,” Mike said as Danielle pulled on her boots.
“Did you see we’re supposed to get like two feet of snow tomorrow night into Thursday morning?”
“We’re going to get it, we get it every year.”
“Yay! Snow day,” Danielle said excitedly while clapping her hands
“Really,” Mike said smiling, “You are worse than a five year old.”
“When’s the concert?”
“Next weekend!”
“I’m so excited!”
“I know you are, I know how much you love her and I figured you needed some time out of the house so I got the tickets. Alex is making your outfit.”
“I love dressing for her concerts, it’s amazing.”
“Just don’t go overboard.”
“There is no such thing as overboard at a Lady Gaga concert. Speaking of which, you are totally wearing eyeliner because you are fucking sexy with it.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Mike laughed.
“I wonder what Alex has up his sleeves,” Danielle said.
“I wish I could tell you but I honestly don’t know, are you ready to go? I’m pretty hungry!”
“Yep, let’s go,” she replied grabbing her coat from the bed.
“Here, let me help you.”
Mike grabbed the coat from Danielle and held it open as she slid her arms into the sleeves. Mike handed her the scarf from the dresser and the matching hat.
“You’re having a baby with a Capital and you steal wear your Pens stuff,” he smiled while shaking his head in disbelief.
“Hey, just because you’re my son’s father doesn’t mean I’m turning to the dark side. Loyalties lie, Greene.”
“We’ll just have to change that.”
“Mhm, we’ll see about that,” Danielle smirked blowing him a kiss before heading out of the room. Mike grabbed his coat from the chair in the living room and grabbed the keys to the Escalade. Taking Danielle’s hand in his, he lead her outside.
They drove talking about their plans for the baby’s room which they both wanted a hockey themed nursery. Danielle saw a design in a magazine that she liked and Mike said he’d hire someone to help them work on it. The walls were going to be sky blue and on one wall was going to be a hockey rink mural complete with a jersey on one wall bearing Landon’s name and Mike’s number.
They pulled into the restaurant and were seated at a booth in the back where they discussed the plans for what they were going to do with Mike’s family during the week. Mike said they could take them sightseeing in the city if the weather allowed when he had off days, as well as going to the five game home stand that the Caps had coming up before they headed out on the road for the week.
When they came back home, Danielle helped Mike clean the house a little bit. They washed the sheets on the beds in the guest rooms and moved all of Danielle’s things into Mike’s room. Mike had more than enough room in his closet and he was more than happy to help Danielle hang her clothes next to his. For the first time in a long time, Mike finally felt like he was getting the family of his own that he always wanted but never thought he’d have.
It was close to midnight when they finished everything up and Mike headed to bed because he had practice and early at eight am. Danielle went online for a little while and ordered things for Landon’s room and a couple of outfits from Carter’s that she thought were cute.
She put the laptop on Mike’s nightstand and turned the lamp off before she curled up and tried to sleep. Mike reached out and put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, “Goodnight,” he whispered sleepily kissing her cheek lightly.
“Goodnight,” she replied shutting her eyes and she soon fell asleep.
Danielle woke up the next day to an empty bed but for the first time in a long time, she got a good night’s sleep. Mike left her a note in the kitchen letting her know what time he would be home and that when he returned, he’d have his family with him.
Danielle made herself something to eat before she took a shower and got dressed for the day. She looked in the cabinet and found a box of cake mix and a can of icing and decided to busy herself by making a cake for Mike’s family. Mike said she wasn’t allowed to cook while they were here but he never said she couldn’t bake.
Danielle set the time on the oven and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. When she was done, the cake was finished and she just had to let it cool before she put the chocolate icing on it. She was finishing up washing the cake pan when she heard the door open and saw Mike come in carrying a suitcase followed by two women and two men.
“Hey,” Mike said walking into the kitchen, “What’d you make, it smells good?”
“I made a chocolate cake, I wanted your family to have something to eat and well since you wouldn’t let me cook them anything, I baked.”
“Looks great,” he replied giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Mike, she’s even more beautiful than you described,” Kate said walking into the kitchen, “You must be Danielle,” she said hugging her.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she replied smiling, “I’ve heard wonderful things about you.”
“Look at you,” Kate gushed, “You’re glowing.”
Danielle smiled and Mike put his arm around her waist, “Michael, you look so happy,” Kate gushed again, “My first grandbaby, I’m so excited.”
“My dad, my brother, and my sister are in the living room,” Mike said, “Want to meet them?”
“No, I think I’ll ignore them the entire time they’re here. Of course, I want to meet them,” Danielle joked elbowing Mike in the stomach.
“I like her,” Kate laughed as they walked into the living room.
“Everybody, this is Danielle,” Mike said, “Danielle, that’s my dad, Dave; my sister, Megan; and my brother, Matt.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Danielle replied shaking their hands.
“I still can’t believe my little brother knocked someone up,” Matt said causing Kate to slap him behind his head.
“Language, Matthew,” she scolded.
“I finally have someone to go shopping with,” Megan said, “You have no idea what it was like growing up with two brothers.”
Danielle laughed before they all fell into conversations about where they wanted to go for dinner, Mike looked at Danielle talking and laughing with his family when he went to get something to drink in the kitchen. He never saw his family warm up to any of his girlfriends the way they warmed up to Danielle.
Kate and his ex-girlfriend butted heads about everything and they never got along. His sister hated her and his brother said she saw her flirting with one of Mike’s old teammates from back home but Mike ignored them and sure enough, he came home from a road trip and caught her in bed with her doctor.
Danielle looked up and made eye contact with Mike and he felt like it was déjà vu, she had done that when he first met her family and was talking with her uncles at her house. Mike smiled back and headed back into the living room. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought that the next time they were all together, his baby boy would be in his arms.
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