Chapter 27-29

Chapter 27


Max pulled himself up and sat on the edge of the bed he wasn’t sure if he heard her right….did she just say she’s pregnant. He stood up and looked down at Lacy who was still laying in the same spot eyes closed tight.

He had to move…he had to do something so he started walking the length of his old room. Every once and awhile he would stop and look at Lacy who had now opened her eyes and was sitting where he had just been sitting watching him.

Lacy sat there and watched him pace…it was only fair to let him have his time to wrap his mind around what she had just said because she had done the same thing not too long before…but part of her wanted him to say something…anything.

“Like with a baby” he stood there looking at her…knowing full well that what just came out of his mouth was quite possibly the stupidest thing he had ever said…but at the moment …it seemed perfectly logical.

“Yes, Max, with a baby” she said with a slight smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

Max came and sat down next to her and reached out for her hand and they just sat there holding each other’s and each let it sink in a little bit more.

----

Cassie wouldn’t tell her anything, Cassie figured that the news was theirs to tell not hers even if her mother-in-law had started to ball rolling. So as soon as she knew Max was upstairs Cassie got up and told Frank she was tired and they left saying that they would stop by tomorrow to spend time with everyone. Which left Lucy pacing just like her son was doing upstairs….the only difference was that Lucy didn’t know what her son did…she wanted to know if she was going to be a grandma.

“Lucy, dear, sit. They need to work things out for themselves” Sergei said as he walked over to his wife

“Yea mom relax, he has the Talbot charm everything will be fine” Will who decided to stick around said because of the way his mother was reacting…he knew something big was going on as soon as the pacing started.

Lucy looked over at her son and shook her head and smiled….she raised her boys right and they did have the Talbot charm as her son put if…everything would be fine…hopefully.

----

“So we are having a baby” Max said knowing that Lacy would want to keep the baby… Lacy just nodded and looked over at him. Max was being very calm. It wasn’t that Max couldn’t be calm but he was almost being too clam and it wasn’t making Lacy feel any better.

“A baby Talbot….you know he is going to play hockey right….lots and lots of hockey” Max looked over at Lacy with a huge smile on his face. For the first time Lacy felt calm about the whole baby thing because Max was taking everything so well it was then she realized what he said

“ A baby Talbot…” she said laughing “What if it is a girl Max…. and anyways we won’t know for awhile. I’m barely a month pregnant”

“No…its boy Talbot’s make boys” Max said leaning down and kissing her cheek but then realized that she had said a month and his smile faltered a bit…a month ago they were being careful the only two time they didn’t use protection was that night and that morning. He knew in the back of his mind that it was still certainly possible for her to still get pregnant while using protection but he wasn’t thinking that right now. Right now worst possible scenarios were going through his head as he tried to remember a month ago and some the nights she had to cancel dates because the Dr. she had worked for had some extra patients

“A month…we were careful Lacy…”

All the calm that she had been feeling washed away in that very second…She couldn’t believe he said what he said…was he thinking that she had slept with someone else. Sure when the doctor at the clinic had told her she was just about a month along and not the 2 or so weeks that she thought she was a little jolt but it was entirely possible the condom broke or something else happened. However to Lacy the fact that she was pregnant and she didn’t know when she would see Max or get the nerve to see Max was the bigger shock.

“DON’T…DON’T YOU DARE MAXIME. YOU KNOW THAT…” but she didn’t finish her statement as she had to run to the bathroom because the thought at what Max was thinking was enough to make the nauseous feeling she had since she spit the word pregnant out a reality.

Max immediately got up and followed her…as she was leaning over the toilet and emptying her stomach out he held her hair and tried to wet a wash cloth for her face….all the while that thought in the back of his head came to the forefront and he suddenly remembered that about a month ago he had once grabbed an older condom out of his drawer and didn’t realize it until after but since he didn’t see a tear in it at the time thought nothing of it…until now that is…

Lacy pulled back and took the cloth Max handed to her and leaned against the bathtub. She had spent way to much time in this bathroom today and now she was waiting for the freak out from Max but instead he just sat next to her and turned her so she was facing him.

“Lacy, I’m sorry. I don’t think that you slept with anyone else…the thought may have slipped into my head….” he had to pause because he wasn’t sure if he should tell her or not because he didn’t want her freaking out with her being pregnant and all…but quickly continued when he saw Lacy’s mouth drop open.

“…but it slipped out in the same second….I love you and you love me….things can happen…they happened to us and now we are having a baby Talbot” he stopped and place his hand on her still flipping stomach.

She wasn’t sure how he had dug himself out of that hole or how she let him do it so easily but she was exhausted and emotionally drained….she was just going to blame it on the hormones she knew were starting to go out of wack so she put her head on his shoulder.

“A baby Talbot…and we are going to be ok right?”

“Of course we are going to be ok….but right now we need to go tell my parents…my mom is going to freak…in a good way” he added quickly so she would stay just like she was “ then we will rest for tonight because it has been slightly crazy. Tomorrow we tell your parents and then…we go back to Pittsburgh together…I’m not leaving without you and the baby”

Lacy just nodded and reached out to the hand Max outstretched as he pulled her up so they could deliver what they had decided would be good news to his parents…not knowing Lacy’s dad had decided to make an appearance downstairs.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 28

“Where is my daughter” Francis demanded as Lucy opened the door and immediately went into protective mother mode knowing what the man standing in her door way thought of her son’s profession and relationship with Lacy.

“Your daughter came over here willingly…she left your house and your demands”

“I want to see her right now…. We have things to discuss privately without the help of you and your family”

Lucy was now ready for a fight now “She is upstairs talking with my family, my son, because they love each other…they want to be together. She is a grown woman know you can’t….” but she was cut off by Lacy and Max coming down the stairs and she turned and looked and couldn’t help but smile big and the sight of their hands linked together”

“Dad what are you doing here”

“ I am here to bring you back home...” Francis spit as he looked at Max.

Max just pulled Lacy closer to him. He was going to stand up to her father for her… but Lacy spoke up first.

“ I don’t think so. Those two weeks were the worst of my life…I am a grown woman I am not going to listen to your demands about med school because it isn’t going to happen…it didn’t happen the first time you wanted it and it won’t in the future…I am my own person and I’ll say it to you again ” she started raise her voice but Max put his hand on her back and started rubbing they had talked about keeping the stress to a minimum like the Dr. had suggested.

“We have already had this discussion…you wouldn’t listen so I came here and I am staying here until Max and I head to back to Pittsburgh,” her just as her mother was walking up the steps stopped her

“Francis what are you doing…” they had their own argument about coming over here. Laberiane had decided once they saw her car and knew she was ok that she loved Max, no one could change her mind back then and now that her baby was grown up she had to let her be…let her love. She also realized though she and her husband had wanted to best for their children it wasn’t always the same thing and was going to let Lacy be and hope that they could salvage a relationship.

“ I am getting our daughter back to our house and then we will figure out what happens next”

Laberiane shook her head and was about to say something when Max stepped in.

“I haven’t said much so now I am going to… I love your daughter more than anything. I know I fucked up a lot when I was younger and ended up breaking her heart because of it…and if you hate me because of that fine…but everyone deserves a second chance your daughter sees that…and gave me one, for that alone I am the luckiest man in the world. I am not going to sit here and let you talk to her like she is five or worse not even in the room. She told you how she feels that that is it….sorry if you don’t like it.”



Francis just stared at Max as he began turning that shade of red that Lacy recognized and then took a step forward toward them. He had every intention of grabbing Lacy and dragging her if it was necessary but Max stepped in front of Lacy ….nothing was going to happen to her or the baby she was carrying…he didn’t care what he had to do to protect the two most important things in his life.

“You have no right” and he took another step forward even as his wife was trying to grab his arm….he was taking it to far.

“ I have no right…what NO RIGHT TO LOVE HER…TOO LATE….NO RIGHT TO WANT TO SPEND FOREVER WITH HER….AGAIN TOO LATE…SHE MAY NOT HAVE A RING RIGHT NOW BUT SOMEDAY SHE WILL.”

Max was going to keep going but Lacy put her hand on his arm and squeezed…this was not keeping the stress level down at all. She just wanted it all to be over with and since they were here she was going to tell them and then it was up to them what they were going to do with it….she wanted to tell them and then go back upstairs with Max and sleep before they left for Pittsburgh tomorrow. He turned around and looked at her and saw the look in her eye and decided to stop remembering the stress they were not avoiding right now.

Lacy nodded at him and stepped up beside him.

“While you are here…We have something to tell you…” she paused just for a second “I’m pregnant…we are having a baby”

Lucy got a huge smile on her face and practically floated over to her son and Lacy and wrapped them both in a hug…whispering congratulations through her tears. After Lucy let go and walked over to her husband who also had tears in his eyes Lacy turned her attention back to her parents…she saw the tears in her mother’…they looked like tears of joy but she wasn’t completely sure… then she saw her fathers face which had turned a shade darker

“Like I said we are having a baby. You guys can do what you want with it. I will always love you but I have a second family here if you don’t accept Max and the baby…he makes me happy and we both with make this baby happy.”

Her mother wanted nothing more to walk over to her youngest daughter and take her in her arms but her husband was blocking the way.

“We are leaving tomorrow afternoon for Pittsburgh and we are going to build a life there….whether you approve or not” she said the last part to her father.

She and her father had a short staring contest before he turned and stormed out of the house. Her mother still stood in the same spot but the tears were running down her face now with a small smile…her baby was grown up and having a baby of her own…she was standing up for what she believed in which even though her father seemed to forget that was also something they had taught their children she hadn’t.

“Laberiane….LETS GO”

She looked at her daughter and Max one more time and the tears started to fall…she turned around and left following her husband out the door.

_____________________________________________________________________________________



Chapter 29



She couldn’t sleep, she wanted too, god she wanted to. Lacy had only slept in short patches for the past week and knew that exhaustion had to be setting in if it hadn’t already. She closed her eyes again and hoped it would work this time. It didn’t she opened her eyes again and grabbed her phone. Seeing that it was almost 5:30 in the morning got a grown as she shifted so we was laying on her back again but this time instead of staring at the spot in the ceiling Lacy shifted her head so she could look at the man who was sleeping peacefully next to her. IT really wasn’t fair they had both had a hard few weeks but he was sleeping like a baby.

That thought cause Lacy to move her hand down to her still flat stomach. She rubbed where she knew she would feel their baby move in a few short months. As she moved her hand up back to her midsection she felt Max’s arm and she started to rub up and down his arm, hoping that it would relax her enough so she could get some sleep.

Instead max felt the light movement on his arm and he opened his eyes just enough to see Lacy staring at the ceiling. He had felt her shift throughout the night but had though she was just moving around in her sleep. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes even though he wasn’t sleeping deeply and lifting his head up to look at her and saw the outline of dark circle, and then he knew she hadn’t been asleep at all.

“Lac, what’s wrong baby?”

“Can’t sleep” she said turning to look at Max who now had his upper body propped up on his arms she he was slightly above Lacy.

“Why not” he asked knowing it was stupid to ask but couldn’t think of anything better to say…he was still half asleep as it was and they had a long drive ahead of them.

Lacy didn’t really say anything she just stared at what was becoming her favorite spot on the ceiling she didn’t have a definite answer for him.

Because his arms were starting to tingle he laid back down but on his side so he was facing her and turned her gently so she was facing him. Knowing she was thinking about what she wanted to say. So he waited as patiently as he could and started rubbing light circles on her back.

“I don’t know Max, so much has happened. And when I think one thing is settled or accept that life is just happening something else gets added to the mix.”

“Ok…” he stopped not know what she was talking about because even though there had been tension downstairs and tension when he first walked in he thought everything had gone fairly well. He was hoping she wasn’t done explaining so he could try and figure it out.

“ Like today…” she looked at Max and heard him take a deep breath like he was worried about something so she rubbed her hand down his face hoping to calm him down before she started again.

“…when I woke up I was ready to finally call you and talk to you but when I went downstairs for the morning I was bombarded with your brothers and then a pregnancy test. Then the clinic just to verify which was terrifying to do by myself even if Cassie was there with me…I wanted you there…”

“Lacy…I will be there from now on though…you know that right???” Max couldn’t keep the worry out of his voice.

She smile and nodded but then kept going “…I was laying her trying to see how I could bring up “I’m pregnant” into the conversation I had planned out in my head with you, but you showed up before I could. When you put your hand on my stomach Max I was so scared that you already knew and you were mad…we never ever talked about kids before and with us just getting back together….”

Max silenced her with a kiss. When he pulled back he looked down as his hand moved down to her stomach taking her hand with his and stopping on her stomach….where their baby was.

“Lacy I could never be mad about this” as he glanced down to where there hand were still resting.

Lacy looked down and then back up at Max.

“I know that now but at the time I mean I was pulled away from my new life a life that I fell in love with, pulled away from you after I fell in love with you again. I couldn’t stand up to my family just like always and then I couldn’t get the nerve to talk to you….” a tear escaped her eye and ran down her face...for almost two weeks she couldn’t and wouldn’t fight for the life she wanted.

“ Is that what you are upset about. Because that is over…we are moving on. You, Me, and the little one”

Lacy couldn’t help but giggle and smile a little bit at how grown up Max was being about everything…it was a complete 180 from the Max a lot of people knew or thought that they knew. Max looked at her laughing and smiling and couldn’t help but smile himself and wondered if she knew how happy he was when she was smiling or how absolutely beautiful she was when was laughing.

He continued “ and as far as your family goes you did stand up to them…”

“but”

“No buts Lac, it may not have been in Pittsburgh… but you did…you did stand up to them Lacy. They wouldn’t listen to you and everyone went along with your father no questions asked but you to a stand and came here.” He paused there to kiss. They may have been having a serious talk but he had missed kissing her, he missed everything about her. Since he had gotten back and they had been reunited so to speak he hadn’t been able to keep his hands to himself. At first because he had to make sure she was real but then it became like always he couldn’t get enough of her and they had almost three weeks to make up for.



After he broke the kiss he went on.



“ and when we went down stairs tonight to share good news but instead we walked in on the makings of World War 3 . I was ready to do it for you tonight because I wasn’t able to in Pittsburgh and if I had well we could have avoided a lot of this but that is beside the point…” he said and stopped to kiss her again.



“Max….”



“I’m not done just yet….you beat me to it and I was so proud of you….you stood up for yourself…for me…for our new family.” He said he couldn’t stop the tear that ran down his face as he looked down at her.



She looked up at him and tried to hold back her own tears as she wiped his away. She loved this side of Max that not a lot of people got to see. They sat there for a minute just looking at each other.



“and not to mention it was HOT” he finally said breathing



She started laughing…that was the Max that most people got to see…. “ HOT” she said before laughing again.



A smile broke out on his face “ What baby…it is so true”



Lacy picked up her head and kissed him he tried to deepen but Lacy pulled away. She still had one more thing on her mind.



“But really do you think everything will be ok. I mean yea I stood up to him but he still left and did you the look on my mom’s face...when I said….when I said that I was pregnant”



Max quickly realized that this was the issue, he knew that they both expected the reaction from her father but he knew exactly what she was talking about…he remembered the look on her mothers face. He hadn’t been able to place it he thought he had seen a slight smile but then instead of saying anything like his mom had…she went along with Francis when he stormed out the of house.



He didn’t know what else what to do so he kissed her again. Picking up his head and looking down at her he knew she was hoping for an actual answer because he knew Lacy had always been close even though her mother backed her father 100% and that strained things between Lacy and her mothers , when they had first got back together Lacy had said that exact thing…but he knew that she loved her mother more than anything and wanted to be close to her…but it hadn’t been possible for a long time …but Max still felt guilty that he started it.



“ I don’t know what to say Lac…I wish I had an answer for you…god I wish I did…so you could relax …so you could have everything that you want…but I don’t. The only thing I do know is that I love you with all of my hear and I meant what I said downstairs…I want to spend forever with you.”



Lacy couldn’t form words… she felt the tears running down her face… Did he just propose??? She heard what he told her father downstairs but it hadn’t registered until just a second ago. If he was proposing her dream was finally coming trues….Having Max’s heart forever and for the first time she truly believed that she had always had his heart.



Max realized he just proposed…in bed while they were talking about family…and he didn’t have a ring. He wasn’t sure if she thought he was serious he hoped the tears were a good thing but she hadn’t said anything and he was getting worried he didn’t want to wait for an answer.



“Lac”



“Hmmm” was all she could get out she was trying fully wrap her mind around everything including a possible proposal.

“Will you spend forever with me?”



Lacy just nodded as Max plunged in for another kiss….Sliding his arms under her and around him, he wanted to be close to her but he still held most of his weight away from her because of the baby but he had no intention stopping the kiss until they both needed air.



Finally pulling up for air but no unwrapping their arms from each other Max put his forehead against hers.



“From now on we start new…you…me…the little one…and anyone who can be happy for us”



She nodded and pulled him down for another kiss….and then pulled away…. “New beginnings”

Chapter 25 & 26

Chapter 25


Still dazed Lacy sat on the edge of the tub staring across the bathroom and the bag Cassie had given her before she came upstairs. Looking down at her watch she realized that was almost an hour ago. Looking back at the bag she began to understand the looks that both of Max’s parents kept giving her yesterday during dinner yesterday…they thought she was pregnant. She couldn’t be could she…well she could be it wasn’t like her and Max hadn’t had sex but they had always been careful…it was then she remembered the last time she had seen Max.

“SHIT SHIT SHIT” She started to replay everything that had happened in those last 48 hours mostly that night and morning before her temper landed her back in Montreal and locked in this bathroom. She remembered that bitch Katie showing up and kissing Max which ended up with Lacy in a bathroom that night…Max telling her that he loved her through the door… going to Vero’s… talking to Max and working everything out… and then for the second time they really made love not just sex but she didn’t remember stopping so he could put a condom on and then that morning she knew they didn’t who thinks about bringing one into the shower especially after the way she woke him up…the last thing on either of their minds were protection…

She looked back at the bag and then started pacing across the small bathroom. That bag that wasn’t a possibility well at least a real one five minutes was now the only thing she could think of. It was then she heard the knock on the door and stopped in her tracks she was terrified that it was Max…his family was close so it was only a matter of time before he found out that she was in his house and she wasn’t sure what she would do if he was on the other side of that door right now so she decided not to answer and started pacing again…but this time she stopped in front of the bag and went to grab but her arm stopped halfway out and then she started pacing again…she wasn’t ready to see if that possibility was more than that just yet…she had just accepted that possibility and now she was thinking about Max and that possibility of a baby…how would she be able to tell him when she had ignored every attempt he made at contacting her since she got back to Montreal.

Another knock stopped her thoughts this time and she looked at the door again. It seemed light and patient and if it was Max he would have already been in here she knew that from knowing him. She walked over to the door and held her hand on the handle for a second sending a last minute prayer that it wasn’t Max because she was still afraid that he was hiding around the corner or something but when she opened the door she saw Cassie standing there.

“Hi….I just wanted to come and check on you.” Cassie said from her spot she didn’t dare move into the bathroom. She already felt like she was intruding when Lacy answered the door.

“Hi….I’m fine just trying to get the guts to take the test”

“So it is possible” Cassie didn’t want to pry but it was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

“ummmm….yea” Lacy looked from Cassie and back to the bag…she really just had to do this.

Cassie noticed the look on Lacy’s face and decided to give her some privacy back “I’m just going to head back downstairs…if you need me I’ll be right up”

“ok thanks” Cassie closed the door for her and Lacy stood there looking at the bag…she grabbed the cup next to the sink and filled it with water and gulped it down and filled it again. She picked up the bag and took her seat on the edge of the tub. Chugging another glass of water down she turned the faucet in the tub on and pulled the test out of the bag…..

------

Max was pacing the lobby of the team hotel waiting for his family to get here so they could eat before he had to go upstairs for his nap. He had so many questions in his mind…but the biggest one was if Lacy would be with them..he wanted no needed to see her to know for himself that she was ok especially after that conversation he had with his mother the other day. Just as he was about to make another lap he saw his mom and dad walking towards him.

“Maxime” his mother walked right up to him and wrapped her arms around him.

He saw both of his brothers and made the rounds saying hello because he hadn’t seen his family in quite awhile but he couldn’t help but be disappointed when he saw Lacy wasn’t there.

“Where is Lacy?”

His mother looked over at her husband and then back at her son and saw how worried he was…she wanted to tell him about the test but she didn’t have anything to tell him and though she had her suspicions about her son becoming a father it wasn’t her place to say anything. Right now she could only hope that Lacy wasn’t put off by being given the pregnancy test and she was there when they brought Max back that night.

“She still wasn’t feeling herself…she’ll be there when we get back…Cassie stayed with her”

Max just nodded…he wanted to be mad but at this point he knew more that he knew three days ago. They made their way to the hotel restaurant for lunch so Max could begin his pre game routine. Lunch went by fast and then they parted ways until after the game.

----

Lacy was back to pacing in the bathroom but this time she was waiting for her watch to beep. She had finally been able to take the test after five cups of water and keeping the faucet running now she just had to wait and she looked again at her watch….she still had two minutes until she would know what the test had to say.

She let her thoughts go again….if it was positive what was she going to do….how would she tell Max when she was too afraid to talk to him now…would he be mad, would he leave her, if he did what would she do she wasn’t going back home to her parents…god what would they say if they even started speaking to her again. She was sure that they had seen her car sitting in the Talbot driveway by now but they hadn’t said anything…could she go to her brothers…probably not they wanted to kill Max even after all this time and they hadn’t said much since they had arrived in Montreal. Would she be able to get a job because she would surely need one….the beeping of her watch stopped he would be questions and she slowly made her way over to the counter where she had set the test and looked down.

“pregnant” she looked down and said it out loud. There was no if’s about what it read, it was clear as day on the test…she went back to the bathtub sat down and put her head between her knees hoping a regular breath would pass through her lungs. After a minute she stood up and walked out with the test and down the stairs where Cassie said she would be.

Cassie was sitting watching TV when she heard the noise on the steps and looked up to see Lacy walking down the stairs holding the test…which gave Cassie her answer it was positive.

“Lacy”

Lacy looked up at Cassie and just held the test out….she couldn’t manage to say it again. Cassie reached out for the test to look at it for herself even though she knew the answer. She took a hold of Lacy’s arm worried that Lacy might fall she had very little color in her…it was like she was in shock.

“Lacy…”

Lacy looked over at Cassie who was now sitting right next to her still holding the test. Lacy reached out for the test…Cassie handed it back and Lacy just looked down at it and then back at Cassie…her practical side kicking in…home pregnancy tests were wrong all the time weren’t they she should see a doctor and confirm it…before she let the emotions that she couldn’t stop feeling from reaching the surface.

She looked at Cassie again and before she could stop herself she started talking…

“I want to go to a clinic where I can get the results today…I can’t wait for results for days because it might drive me mad….and I just need to find out for sure as soon as possible.”

Cassie looked at Lacy and saw the emotion that Lacy was trying to hold in until she knew for sure reaching the surface and suddenly understood that what Lacy had just said was the complete truth, she didn’t say anything but got up and grabbed coats for both of them before heading out to her car and taking Lacy to the clinic so she could know for sure, 100 percent. She knew that Lacy had one surprise already and possibly would have one in a few hours and of course the biggest surprise would be later….Max was coming home for the weekend just for her…what he didn’t know was there was a good chance he was in for a surprise himself…he could find out that he was going to be a dad before the night was over.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 26

Max just wanted to get home and see Lacy for himself. He usually felt most like himself on the ice but knowing Lacy was at his house…not feeling like herself as his mother put it and it really had him worried. He wanted to see Lacy and know that she still loved him and that they would be ok…she had to know he wasn’t giving up on her, on them they would be able to figure it out.

After the game had ended he showered and got dressed as fast as he could…he waited long enough and right now he just wanted to get to his family hop in the car and get to where Lacy was waiting…he wasn’t even thinking that she may not know that he was coming for her but as he was thinking about that the anger of her ignoring him came back and he didn’t really care anymore. She wasn’t going to have a choice in the matter…he loved her more than he thought possible he had been lost the past few weeks without having her around and the fact that she wouldn’t call him back and talk to him made it worse…much much worse.

Max was lost in his thoughts when his brother got his attention…

“So Lacy huh?”

Max looked over at her brother who had a shit eating grin on his face. One Max wasn’t in the mood to deal with his thoughts were racing in every which way and he would be ok until he saw Lacy and go everything figured out.

“Yea…is that ok with you?”

“Whoa there….I didn’t mean anything by it…I would say it surprised me but if anyone could settle you down it would be her…I always thought you were stupid back then…and the fact that she found you in Pittsburgh when she has been hiding from you for god knows how long….it really is just hilarious”

“Thanks jerk off…leave me alone” He just couldn’t deal with it right now….he and Lacy had gotten past all of that and were moving on…they got past the Katie issue and had the best night ever as far as he was concerned followed by the best morning ever and then she was gone….just like that and he hadn’t heard her voice since. He needed to see Lacy he just needed it.

The next time Max was able to focus on anything he saw the house that he grew up in but more importantly he saw Lacy’s range rover sitting in the driveway…he got out of the car and practically ran up to the house…

“Maxime”

He stopped in his tracks he may be 25 years old but his mother’s voice could still stop him in his tracks. He turned and looked at his mother who was trying not to laugh at her son.

“Maxime I know you want to see her and you will but she has been through a lot these past two weeks. Ok”

“I know that…but I have to.” He put his head down hoping that he could keep his cool but everything from the past two weeks ran through his head was making that almost impossible. He took a deep breath and then turned to look at his mom who had made her way up right behind him and wound her arms around her youngest to hug him and he returned it and bent down to kiss her cheek.

“I just need to see her”

“Ok…” His mom let go and tried to not to think about what she had left her daughter-in-law with and then followed him into the house.

As he made his way into his childhood home Max was disappointed that most of the house was dark but he finally saw the light coming from the living room, he turned quickly hoping to see Lacy waiting for him but instead saw is sister-in-law in a chair reading.

He stepped into the room a bit further and looked out the window and the range rover he swore was Lacy’s and then back Cassie.

“She is upstairs” Cassie said without missing a beat knowing exactly who Max was looking for. She didn’t get a chance to say anything else because Max was gone. She simply looked up at the ceiling and hoped that everything would go smoothly.

----

Max walked upstairs remembering that it had been a stressful two weeks but still had to force himself to walk up the stairs to see her. Making his way down the hall he saw only one door was closed…his. It was early because the game was an afternoon game so he didn’t think she would be sleeping but when he opened the door he saw she was in fact asleep.

He took his time making his way over to her sleeping figure on the bed. He wanted nothing more than to lay down and wrap Lacy in his arms but he didn’t want startle her…his mother was right she didn’t look like herself and she certainly looked pale. He sat there and just looked at her for a while…yes she looked pale but still so beautiful and it took his breath away.

Finally he couldn’t wait anymore. He gently put his hand on the side of her face moving the hair that laid on her cheek and bent down and kissed it. Lacy moved a little bit still drifting between waking up and snuggling deeper into the sleep she needed. When she did open her eyes she saw the outline of his face.

“Max” she rubbed her eyes hoping her eyes would be able to adjust to the darkness as she reached out for his face.

Max leaned down to her and gently put his lips gently on hers “ I’ve missed so much Lac”

He didn’t bother taking his suit jacket and laid down and did exactly what he wanted to do in the first place. He wrapped his arms around her and his hands gently laid on her stomach.

Lacy felt a slight panic when he laid his hands on her stomach and stiffened. Sure he was always holding her like that but to her it seemed like he was being super gentle for some reason…

Max felt her stiffen and immediately sat up to look at her…he was worried she never was like that before everything…even though she had to leave he thought they had talked everything out…for the first time since he decided to come home for the weekend he was afraid that she changed her mind. So many questions were going through his head…

At the same time Lacy had just as many question going through her head but they were completely different questions. Did Cassie tell them….more importantly did Max already know? They wouldn’t have told him would they? Her decision was made either way…she was going to be a mother in roughly 8 and ½ months. Before she could stop herself she spoke up thinking that he did somehow know his life was going to change in some way.

“You’re not mad about this?”

Max tilted his head…sure he was mad at one point but he realized that it was mostly worry “Mad…why would I be mad Lac…worried is more like it”

Lacy sat up now and looked at Max….it dawned on her, he didn’t know…he was just happy to be next to her to talk to her…which she had been avoiding because she didn’t know what she was going to do….she still didn’t for sure and now it all depended on how he reacted to the news she had. She leaned on to him and wrapped her arms around him. Max wrapped his arms back around Lacy suddenly feeling relief knowing that in one embrace she did still love him…but he still had to ask.

“ We are still ok…we can still be together….because Lacy I love you so much…I need you in my life” He had meant to stop after the question but once he started talking he could stop and he was about to start again Lacy put her finger up to his mouth.

“I still love you more than anything..I didn’t know what I was going to do part of me still doesn’t…there is so much that is going to change…big changes…” she almost blurted it out but was silent when Max’s lips crashed against hers and all at once she felt herself being lowered down to the bed and Max sliding so he was balancing on top of her. It was once he was holding most of his weight off of her that she said something about changes…big changes…but what big changes. He broke the kiss and looked down at her.

“Changes….Lacy what are you talking about.”

Lacy swallowed and closed her eyes….. “I’m pregnant Max…”

Chapter 23 & 24

Chapter 23


Lacy had been back in Montreal for just about two weeks. She had yet to do anything. She stopped crying all the time two days after she got back to Montreal and was just mad now; she hated everything and everyone including herself. She had fought for Max with everyone…lost everything she had for Max but when it came to her father she just sat down and didn’t say one word…it was like she rolled over and died.

She finally decided to go downstairs at least to get some air and maybe some medicine she had a queasy stomach the past few days and just wanted it to stop. On her way downstairs she heard her parents talking and they were talking about her…she stopped where she was and listened.

“Sweetheart she is miserable.”

“She brought this upon herself…She decided to go back with that Neanderthal and look what it did to her…fighting, losing her job, fighting with her brothers and sisters.”

“Love makes you do things…I agree with you that he is probably no the best person in the world for her. She could do so much better but….”

“NO BUTS. THAT UPSTAIRS IS NOT THE DAUGHTER I RAISED. I RAISED RESPECTABLE CHILDREN WHO DO AS THEIR PARENTS ASKED. SHE STOPPED DOING THAT THE DAY THAT BOY KISSED WAY BACK WHEN. I WONT HAVE IT….”

Lacy was shocked at what had come out of her father’s mouth but given the past two weeks and the last time he was talking she shouldn’t be…It hurt but it infuriated her even more. She finished her trip down the stairs trying not to completely lose it

“YOU WONT HAVE IT….THE LAST TIME I CHECKED I WAS A GROWN WOMAN AND I HAD THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE CHOICES THAT I WANT TO ME…I LOVE HIM..I ALWAYS HAVE. I’M SORRY….NO I’M NOT SORRY YOU DON’T LIKE IT OR WON’T HAVE IT…I AM DONE….BYE.”

“YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE”

“OH YES I AM…I’M NOT A CHILD..IF YOU CAN’T BE HAPPY FOR ME IN WHATEVER I CHOOSE TO DO THEN I DON’T NEED YOU…”

With that Lacy forgot about her stomach and made her way back upstairs and stated to pack all of her things…she didn’t know where she was going to go but it wasn’t going to be in this house. She took her bags down one by one…completely ignoring everything else that was going on around her.

“Tell she can’t take the car Landon” Landon looked at his dad and then at Lacy as she stopped in the doorway because she heard what her dad had said to..she just looked at her brother waiting for it.

“Lac….”but he stopped and looked at his dad “sorry dad…it was a gift, she can keep it” then walked off to the kitchen where his mother had disappeared.

Lacy stood there for a second looked at her father and then made her way out the door. She drove…she didn’t know where to but she did and for the first time since she lost her job she was smiling. She stood up for herself and for Max hopefully he was to. She started driving back to the neighborhood but not to her parents place but to Max’s hoping they would take her in and she could try to explain everything…but the closer she got the more queasy she got. When she pulled into the driveway she stopped and just put her head down on the steering wheel to settle everything…instead she ended up getting sick in a grocery bag she had sitting in the car before getting out and making her way to the door and knocking.

“Lacy?” Max’s mom asked as she opened the door.

“Ummm”

“Come in”

Lacy did as she was told the queasiness still present but she took a seat in the living room and waited. Soon after Lucy brought some tea and sat down. Lacy spilled everything about being with Max the past few months and what happened recently.

“I haven’t called him back or answered any of his messages…I don’t know…what..” she stopped because she felt the tears run down her face.

“You love him…and he has always loved you. Something I have always known even after.” She wrapped her arms around Lacy hoping to calm her down…but Lacy got up and ran to the bathroom and was sick again. When she came out she heard Lucy whispering to Sergei…

“That explains why he has been so quiet, Why he hasn’t wanted to talk much..”

“I know. I wish he would have told us more. I knew that he had found Lacy sometime back and I knew they were spending time together but this looks serious..our son is really in love.”

Lacy walked out but before she could say anything Sergei was over in front of Lacy and wrapping his arms around her.

“You are welcome to stay here with us as long as you want….”but stopped when he looked at how pale Lacy really was “Are you ok”

“Ummm yea..I’ve just been queasy the past week or so…I’m sure its nothing” Sarge looked over at his wife who was smiling like she had figured something out and then back at Lacy.

“Why don’t you go up to Max’s old room and rest I will get your bags and then we can figure everything out”

Lacy just nodded and made her way up to his old room…everything looked the same. She took her time to look around and was shocked to see all the old pictures of them still around. She thought that Max hadn’t kept them after all of these years. She made her way to the twin size bed laid down and fell asleep that Max really did love her and always had…just like he said.

----

Max was miserable. Everyone knew it even his parents and brothers had taken to calling him every day to see if he ok…but he didn’t want to talk about it with them…he didn’t even want to talk about it with the guys and would just get pissed and walk off if one of them brought it up.

He never thought he could be this upset with the exception of losing the cup but that didn’t even matter anymore because they came back and won the cup this past season. He missed her…they had spent practically every waking moment with each other up until this road trip and he knew that was going to be a test because it was the first long road trip the team had since they had become official and serious with each other but he knew that she was going to be there and at least they had the phone…but that all went away…he didn’t have that anymore.

Lacy wouldn’t answer the phone…he lost count of how many voicemails that he had left her. He tried calling when he woke up, after morning skates, dinner time, after the game, and before he went to sleep…but nothing.

“This right here is why I never had a real relationship Flower” he said as he tossed his phone down on the bed of the hotel they were in and turned to look at Flower who was trying to keep himself busy and prepare for tonight’s game.

“What do you mean man…you love her” Flower said putting his book on the next team down He wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to try and see what Max was thinking and feeling. He had been so quiet and tight lipped since that day at his house.

“That is beside the point…She won’t answer…she won’t call back and it is all I can think about. I suck right now…I should be focused on helping the team but I can only think of Lacy and if she is ok and how much I hate this…”

“Because you love her…look she told V that she didn’t know when she would be able to talk…and V told you how upset she sounded no?...” when Max just nodded he continued “if you are having a hard time with this imagine what she is going through…”

“I tried that Flower I did really….but If she loved me wouldn’t she at least try it has been practically two weeks since she left. She couldn’t even say goodbye to me she called your girlfriend…and what’s worse she is 25 god damn years old and she couldn’t stand up to her dad about our relationship. She stood up to everyone else but him…”

Marc went to say something… “I’m not done flower…she told me she stood up to him about med school which never was an option for her or her siblings it was one of those understood things but she did it then, she stood up to her sister and both brothers for me…for us…hell she punched some girl I slept with after the cup and lost her job because of it…because she loves me…but not her dad…WHY FLOWER”

“I don’t know man I wasn’t there…you weren’t there. But from what you said her dad isn’t exactly the person you stand up to…and if you do…nothing good usually happens…So you think your shoulder will hold up…New Jersey is a tough one” Flower knew he was trying to change the subject but he didn’t know what else to do especially when Max just looked at him…he was at a loss at what to try next The one thing he knew was he needed Max back as a friend and as part of the team. Max was getting ready to continue his rant but at that moment Marc remembered the book of tendencies that he had been looking over for the next game…after tonight anyway…Montreal.

Right as he was going to say something he saw Max dive after his phone. For a second he prayed that it was Lacy but he knew the chances of that were slim…

“SHES WHERE?”

“NO I heard you…Is she ok?”

“What do you mean pale and weak…let me talk to her

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE CANT TALK TO ME RIGHT NOW….MOM COME ON…”

“Fine but please have her call me…I have to talk to her. I miss her.”

Max looked over at Marc defeated but slightly less than before…

“So…”

“She is at home….”

“Well you know she is ok and she got there safe then”

“FLOWER MY HOUSE…SHE SHOWED UP AT MY PARENTS HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON…PALE…WEAK…” Max had to stop because he felt the tears and his throat was dry..He may have been mad as hell that she hadn’t called him back and he had no clue what was going on but he loved her and wanted her to be ok which obviously she wasn’t…all of his trying to imagine what she was going through had instantly turned into nightmares…

The way everything sounded she was going back up home because that was what her dad said which meant her dad was going to control her and everything she did…so why did she just show up at his parents the way she did…he felt the anger coming back because of how she was described to him from his mom and there was nothing he could do about it now…he doubted he could have even stopped it..

“Max…” Flower tried to get his attention…he had to tell him what had slipped his mind until just a second ago.

“WHAT FLOWER” he said and wiped the few tears that had slipped…

“We play Montreal Saturday…you are going to be in Montreal on Saturday”

Max fell back on the bed…he wanted to smile he had to figure out the details and fast…He got up and grabbed his computer he usually knew where and when they were playing the last two weeks of hell had changed that. He saw that they had a three day break. He got up and ran out of the room to Coach Dan’s room….

Dan opened the door to Max who looked like he was having a break down…

“ I need…need to talk to you.”

He waved Max in and closed the door.

About 20 minutes later a calmer Max walked back into his room and looked at Flower who had been staring at the door Max had run out of still trying to figure things out..

“I’m staying in Montreal after the game…I need to call my parents…they are going to come to the game and then I’m going home with them…Lacy can’t get away I have to talk to her…I have to see that she is ok and if I have my way…she will be coming back with me.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 24

It was late and she was exhausted. The past day had taken so much out of her between her father and her standing up for herself and then driving around until she found herself in the Talbots driveway, getting sick in the driveway, explaining everything, getting sick again.

After all the talking and her latest trip to the bathroom Max’s mom sit and relax while she made dinner.

“I’ll just make you some chicken broth.” If she was right it wasn’t going to help Lacy but she needed food in her stomach. Lacy had pretty much dosed off while she was waiting for the food…she didn’t even see or hear Lucy walk over and call her son to let him know Lacy was in fact in Montreal like he had asked her to do if she heard anything but to let him know that she would be staying in their home.

Lucy walked back in after the short conversation which involved a lot of yelling because she wouldn’t let Max talk to Lacy…she honestly didn’t think Lacy could take anymore today. She was already fighting herself by not going to the store to get a test that she knew Lacy needed to take.

She walked over to her husband who was sitting on the other couch watching TV and taking looks at Lacy asleep on the couch.

“Max is playing in Montreal on Saturday”

“I know”

“He said he wants us to come to the game”

“Ok we can do that …Is Lacy going to come.”

“I don’t think so…he said about working it out so that he would be able to come back here…I really hope they can figure it out.”

“Lucy…I know and you know that Max and Lacy love each other but we can’t get in the middle”

“Sergei….they love each other and if my hunch it right I think there will be more at stake then just their love in 7 or 8 months”



This got her husband’s attention and he began looking back and forth between her and Lacy who was still sleeping on the couch.

“She is pregnant”

“I think so I am going to have Cassie bring a test over with her tomorrow hopefully she will take it.”

Lucy walked over to Lacy to wake her up because her soup was ready. Lacy didn’t eat much just enough to hopefully stop the subtle looked Lucy kept shooting her way.

“I think I am going to get some sleep. Today took a lot out of me.”

She slept late the Saturday morning but woke up to voices down stairs making her way downstairs she stopped for a minute when she saw Max’s brothers and Cassie Frank’s wife.

Lacy hadn’t felt herself for the past few days but it was off and on but her stomach decided that moment to flip again. She wasn’t sure what sure what was going on with her but when she went to make a move to go back upstairs until she could settle again but a voice stopped her.

“You sure have grown up.”

She took the last step and was engulfed by Frank and Will. “She came out of hiding all grown up… Where did you disappear to.”

“Ummm…places” being pressed this close to the older Talbot men only made her stomach flip more. She finally broke away and into the bathroom to empty her stomach…even though there really wasn’t much there. She walked back out to the group as they were all getting into coats.

“Where is everyone going”

“O I need to run into Montreal for awhile and I need my boys help but Cassie will be here with you.”

Lacy just nodded and sat down…trying to keep her stomach from flipping the way it was. With that they all made their way out and to Montreal to see Max play and bring him back so him and Lacy could work things out.

Cassie took this time to talk to Lacy. As Lacy was about to go upstairs and take a hot shower Cassie stopped her…

“Lacy I know we don’t each other that well so I hope you don’t mind me doing this. Lucy thought it would be better coming from someone closer to your age.” She handed Lacy a brown paper bag and looked at her hoping she would understand.

Lacy looking in the bag and back at Cassie….

“A pregnancy test….” The one possibility she hadn’t considered.

Chapter 21 & 22

Chapter 21


Lacy couldn’t be surprised as she drove through the streets of Pittsburgh…she couldn’t believe it herself…almost. Erin had really been getting on her nerves ever since she saw Max in the office with Lacy that day and it got worse…unfortunately for Lacy today was the last straw especially with the last 24 hours. But she was glad that she had finally stood up for herself.

She started to head to her apartment but wasn’t ready to see her family yet especially with the latest developments so she kept driving until she found herself in the parking lot outside the arena where she knew Max was supposed to be practicing…after the way last night worked out…she just wanted Max, just like she always had when she had a problem.

The boys were skating around working on the usual drills that they did at the end of practice before they played juice boy. Flower was the first one to notice Lacy…it was open practice but there weren’t a lot of people there but it was Wednesday morning.

“Hey Max”

Max turned around and made his way over to Marc. He was tired as hell but he couldn’t keep the smile off of his face…things with Lacy were great…they talked and got most everything worked out.

“Whats up”

“I thought you said that Lacy had to work this morning…”

“She did..she should be there right now and I’m going to head over there and take her to lunch…Why?”

“Ummm because I’m pretty sure that is her sitting right over there” he pointed across the ice to where Lacy had just taken her seat and was watching practice.

Max turned back around and saw Lacy sitting there just watching…he was worried but he couldn’t do anything at the moment they had to finish up practice. Max was more determined than ever to make his shot so he could figure out what was going on. When it was finally his turn…he took his shot and made which meant he could leave. He thought the Flower made it easy for him but he wasn’t going to push it. He took a very quick shower…basically enough to get the sweat and smell off and made his way out to where Lacy was still sitting.

“Lac”

She turned around and her eyes were all puffy the realization of her losing her job had hit her while she was sitting there and the tears finally came. She came to Pittsburgh for that job…she loved being a nurse now she was fired from the hospital and the Dr’s office which her first boss put her neck out in order for Lacy to get it…what the hell was she going to do now?

When Max saw the tears he was scared he thought that she had changed her mind about everything last night and he couldn’t make his feet moved he wanted to put off the conversation for as long as humanly possible. He meant what he said he was in love with Lacy…he always had been and he couldn’t lose her not now. He finally forced himself to take a step forward and it wasn’t until then he saw the large red mark on the side of her face and nice little cut to go with it. He didn’t have to force any more steps he practically flew down them.

“What the hell happened?”

“What”

“Your face”

“O ummm…” for the first time she felt the sting in her face. She thought about saying nothing but she saw the look in his eyes.

“ummm…got into a little fight…”

“WHAT” Max yelled and got the attention of the guys who were still on the ice

“You were just at work…how did you get in a fight”

“Erin…she umm said something and after everything it really just pushed me over the edge so I slapped her and it just went on from there.”

Max didn’t say anything he didn’t think he could form any words..He just grabbed her hand and led her downstairs…to get looked at.

Max took her right into the trainer’s room so Chris could look at her face…

“What happened here…”

“Nothing…really I’m fine” Lacy didn’t want to make a big deal about it because that wasn’t the worst of it.

“Lacy just let him look at you” She looked at him and just agreed because she still had more to say.

After Chris checked her out and told her what she would now that she was fine…just a had little mark…he left leaving Max and Lacy in the room

“What did she say.”

“Its fine it’s over Max”

“No…”

“She said things about me and you and she saw last night…I lost my cool..but that isn’t the worst of it.”

Max wasn’t sure how it could get any worse so he just looked at Lacy and waited. She took the silence and just looked at him and then looked down.

“I lost my job because of it.”

“WHAT”

“You heard me Max” The tears started again. Max just made his way over to her and wrapped his arms around her and just let her cry. He didn’t know what to say or do….she stood up for their relationship like she had been for the past day and she lost her job because of it…because of him and his reputation.

She finally pulled away and just looked at him…she knew she couldn’t afford her place without her job so she was probably going to have to go home and finally give in to her parents demands about med school. That is if they talked to her because of the way she lost her job.

“I can’t afford my place Max, not without my job. Lana get live on campus..I don’t know what I am going to do.”

Max had taken into much information. He couldn’t say anything he just kept his arms around her. He loved her but he didn’t know what to do.

------

Chapter 21 part 2

They went their separate ways after they left the training room. Max to lunch with the guys and Lacy home to deal with her brothers and sister…and to break the news to them about the job.

Lacy walked into the apartment to see all three of them sitting on couch in the living room with her parents as well. This really just got a lot harder

They all turned around and looked at her. Landon was the first to see her face as she got closer.

“I am going to kill that bastard.”

“What the hell are you talking about.”

“YOUR FACE LACY…THAT IS WHAT THE HELL I AM TALKING ABOUT.” Landon was losing it their parents were both sitting there in shock. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Lacy looked over at them and knew she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“SIT DOWN LANDON” Lacy was never one to yell with her family she always felt out of place but she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Max had nothing do with this…I….umm…got into a fight today.”

Her father finally stood up and spoke for the first time. “Lacy we raised you better than this. We lost you when that hoodlum broke your heart and now you come down here for a job you shouldn’t be doing…find that boy again alienate your brothers when they come to visit and now you are fighting. YOU SURE AS HELL KNOW BETTER THAN THIS”

Lacy sat there and her father rant and rave but she knew it was going to be worse when she finished…

“Dad…I am not done.” She saw him stop dead and look at her waiting for her to continue.

“I lost my job because of it.”

“LACY RENAE…” Lacy recognized the red her father was turning…he was only that way when he was really angry like when she wasn’t going to medical school. The rest of her family sat there shocked

Before her dad could continue she did…. “I defended myself and my relationship.” She didn’t want to go into details but continued “ I hate that I had to lose my job but honestly if I had to defend myself or Max against the things she was saying I would do it again.”

“You are coming home”

“Excuse me”

“YOU HEARD ME”

“I AM A GROWN WOMAN….”

“WHO HAS MADE A MESS OF HER LIFE…YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME THIS TIME”

She knew she was losing and just sat there very quiet.

“Lana you will finish your schooling her and take advantage of the housing allowance and only because Pitts medical school is very well.” Lana just nodded…at this point no one was going to cross him.

“Lacy you will come home and we will try to get you into school for January. Go Pack we leave tonight. Landon and LJ will drive with you. We will meet you there. Lana I believe you have some calls to make.”

Everyone got up and headed. Lacy was holding back tears. She was 25 years old and she was being forced to abandon her new life…and Max when they just realized how much they do still love each other but she knew better than to question her father. She closed herself into her room and grabbed her bags tossed them on the bed and started packing her things. She came across some of Max’s shirts that he had left here and put them in the bag as tears streamed down her face. She picked up her phone and tried to call him but go no answer. She called Vero next.”

“Hello…”

“Hi, Vero its Lacy.”

“Lacy Hi how are things.” But knew as soon as she register the voice she knew things were not good.

“What did he do”

“Nothing Vero really…I can’t get a hold of Max”

“O…”

“Listen I don’t have a lot of time Vero. A lot has happened since your place. I lost my job and my parents are here. I don’t have a choice I have to go back to Montreal…I need you to tell Max goodbye for me” She was almost sobbing at this point.

“O Lacy are you sure…I mean I’m sure you can find something here…you can stay with us.”

“I wish it were that easy Vero. My life isn’t mine anymore. My parents are furious with me and the blame Max…I can’t cross my father…I just can’t. I have done enough of that in my life. Just tell him goodbye, I’m sorry, I love him and always will”

“Ok…I hope we can keep in touch”

“I hope so but you probably won’t hear anything from me for awhile. Goodbye Vero” She hung up just in time for her father and brothers to come in to get her bags and into the car. An hour later they were dropping their parents off at the airport and they were on their way back to Montreal.

_____________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 22

Max’s POV

We went to lunch and the guys wouldn’t stop asking about Lacy. They heard part of our…no my outburst because of what she told me. But I couldn’t help it. Fighting was not Lacy, yes she had a temper but she always controlled it so well when we were younger and even now when everyone was fighting her on being with me. I couldn’t figure it out Erin said something but something to push her that far unless she was closer to the brink of breaking than I was thinking.

“So what happened?” Jordan brought up as we walked over to the table where Flower and the others were waiting.

“Nothing” I really didn’t feel like sharing at the moment. My mind was everywhere thinking about the circumstances of Lacy fighting and then how it was going with her siblings. She hadn’t seen them since Landon punched me in the face. Which reminds me I really have to look in a mirror and see how bad it is?

Everyone was sitting around joking and laughing like always. We were still playing fairly well and we were going a road trip the next day. I was excited for that it was my first real road trip back. Sure I went to the away games when I first came back with the short trip but this was going to be the longest so far…hopefully everything with Lacy will be good so I can focus on playing hockey. I played ok the last time but I can still do better…a lot better I want back on the second line.

We were taking our time just hanging out…some team bonding but really were just screwing around when Flower’s phone started ringing… “COME ON MAN…We said no phones. The rest of us turned ours off” Jordan yelled as Flower shook his head and picked it up. I couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the way Staalsy was acting…sometimes I really think he is five. However when Flower looked at me with his eyes about falling out of his head I stopped laughing real fast.

“Ummm. Yea I’ll get him to come over with me” He hung up his phone and looked back at me. I really didn’t like the look on his face.

“Come here man” Flower waved me over to where he was standing behind the table. I got up almost afraid of what he was going to tell me. He looked like he saw a ghost and didn’t want anything to do with what was going

“Ummm. Lacy just called Vero”

“What..Why….”

“Because your phone is off…”

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket turned it back on…and sure enough there was a missed call but no voicemail from her.

“Shit…who’s idea was it to turn our damn phones off. Why they hell didn’t she leave a voicemail….”

“Max..”

“She has already had a shitty ass day…”

“MAX”

“WHAT”

“Come with me man…Vero wants to tell you something.”

“What???”

I was beyond confused now but I left with Flower to go see what Vero had to say.

-----

Lacy’s POV

I sat in the back of the range rover that Landon had bought for me. I didn’t get out to see my parents off at the airport. I was so upset….mad….sad….borderline depressed. I couldn’t stand up for myself I was a complete chicken. I wanted to but when he was like that no one crossed him…I did it once and they practically disowned me.

Landon and LJ got back into the car not to long after parking. Neither one of them saying anything since they put the rest of my bags into the car; and I really didn’t want to talk to them either. We always have been close well until now. They are just being really protective and I don’t need that anymore. I know Max hurt me and they had to help me through it but he has shown me that he can be different and that he loves me. They didn’t even give him a chance. Now I don’t even have a chance to love him anymore….hell I didn’t even get a chance explain or say goodbye.

I really hate everything and just about everyone right now.

-----

On the way to Flowers house just like the night before he kept trying to call Lacy but it went right to voicemail. He was starting to get worried

Max made his way in Flower and Vero’s house and immediately noticed that Vero was pacing back and forth and he immediately he didn’t like what was going on. They had just fixed everything….what else could be going on.

“Whats going on V?”

“O. I didn’t see you guys”

Flower walked to the kitchen. He hadn’t said anything since he got Max in the car.

“V…Flower said you wanted to tell me something.”

“I don’t want to….I have to” she said it under her breath but Max still heard…

“What do you have to tell me” his voice broke a little bit because Vero was never like this and if Lacy had called Vero and she was upset then….

“Lacy is gone.”

“Gone…What do you mean gone.”

“ I mean her parents showed up…found everything out…and are forcing her to go home….GONE”

Max fell on to the couch he didn’t know what to do or what to say…he was at a loss. He knew that her parents had never really liked the fact that he played hockey and they must really not have like what he did to their daughter…but she was 25 years old…they forced her to go home.

“She told me to tell you that she loves you and goodbye. She doesn’t know when she is going to be able to call. I couldn’t get much more out of her.”

Max just looked at Vero. Everything had been fixed yesterday well this morning. They knew they loved each other and everything was fixed now….she was gone she was forced to go home. He had to talk to Lacy. He pulled out his phone and tried again but got voicemail again.

“Lacy please call me…I just….Vero…..” his voice broke even more and tears fell down his face. “ please just call me Lacy…I Love you”

He closed the phone and just laid back on the couch and stared at the season. He had been looking forward to the road trip to get his game back on track but that all went out the window…that was when he had Lacy here in Pittsburgh waiting for him

----

Lacy was laying in the back of the car and her brothers were taking turns driving. She had covered herself with her coat and turned her phone on. She was bombarded with phone calls and texts and finally the voicemail showed up on the screen. She called her voicemail and ignored everything else.

“Lacy please call me…I just….Vero…..” “ please just call me Lacy…I Love you”

She hung up and turned her phone off incase Max called back she couldn’t talk to him right now.. He was hurting…she was hurting She kept her coat over her and silently cried until they got home the home that wasn’t hers anymore…her home was supposed to be in Pittsburgh

Chapter 19 & 20

Chapter 19


Lacy was sitting on the other side of the door…she heard everything Max had said and she started crying again. He had just said the perfect thing….but the circumstance was not what she wanted she wanted. She wanted him to just say it not because of drama…but Max was Max….

She sat there for awhile...it had gotten quiet she wondered if Max had walked away she heard another voice but even that had stopped. She opened the door and took a step out…and looked down and saw nothing but then looked to the right and saw Vero sitting in a chair off to the side…

“Hi there”

“Hi” Lacy made her way over to where Vero was still sitting.

“Are you ok”

“I’m not sure”

Vero nodded and led Lacy down the hallway and out the back door to the car that Marc had left for them because the boys had taken Max’s car back to her and Marc house. With everything Vero heard Max say she wasn’t going to let Lacy walk out on that. She got Max to spill his feelings right there on the floor outside of the bathroom.

Once they got into the car Lacy looked over at Vero…

“Can you just drop me off at my place.”

“Nope…”

“No, V I have to go work in the morning and…”

“We can stop and get what you need but you are coming with me”

“V”

“No buts Lacy….you shouldn’t be alone tonight you can stay in our guest room”

“I won’t be alone my family is in town” Lacy couldn’t even believe that she had just said that because she wasn’t on the best terms with them at the moment but she looked at Vero anyway who was just looking back at her shaking her head.

----Marc’s Place----

“You think she will come”

“I don’t know man…I know you didn’t do anything but I can’t imagine what is going through her head…seeing someone you love kiss someone else.”

“I didn’t kiss her….she kissed me”

Max started pacing back and forth he knew what he had said outside that door…Marc didn’t because he wasn’t there but Vero was…hopefully Lacy heard too.

It was silent for the next minutes Max sat on the couch and just looked at the clock it was now almost 1 in the morning and she had to be at work by 8 at the latest. She was just about to give up for the night and go to sleep…he was willing to risk getting punched again so he could talk to her in person without the door in the way when he heard the garage…he stopped in his tracks and started at the door hoping Lacy would walk through it.

Lacy knew Max was at Marc’s. Vero had told her on the way and that they really should talk. Lacy nodded she didn’t want to admit that she had heard what Max had said to anyone other than Max. They pulled into the garage a little after one and it was still going to be awhile before sleep if Max was awake and wanting to talk.

She walked in with Vero carrying the overnight bag that Vero had helped her pack without waking any of her siblings up. Vero just nodded at Max and walked upstairs to find Marc. Lacy stopped just inside the door when she saw Max, his eyes were all red and puffy but she wasn’t sure if that was from what happened at the club or what happened at her house earlier…but he looked tired.

“Lac”

Lacy closed her eyes just for a second to try and collect her thoughts and then took a step forward toward where Max was. When she got close enough she could tell that he had been crying just like she had been…she took a step closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. She wanted to be close to him…

She threw Max for a loop when she wrapped her arms around his neck but he wasn’t going to question anything. He put his head down on to her shoulder and buried his face in Lacy’s hair. They stood like that for a good five minutes before either of them moved.

Lacy pulled away just enough to look at Max. “Can we go somewhere and talk”

Max nodded and led her to the guest room downstairs that Marc said was all theirs. He knew why Marc said this room because it was far enough away should they make up.

They got into the room and Lacy walked into the bathroom…she wanted to get comfortable. She washed her face and put her lotion on like she did night grabbed her shorts and tank and walked back out to see Max pacing back and forth it looked like he was talking to himself.

Max looked up when he heard Lacy come back into the room…he was trying to remember everything that he had said in the club to her…well the door since she hadn’t said anything he was assuming that she didn’t hear what he said. But everything that he had remembered in the last few minutes went out the door when he saw her in the tank top and short shorts...he felt his breath catch in his throat

“Max”

It took him a minute to respond because his eyes followed Lacy as she walked over to the bed and got under the covers.

“Yea”

“Talk”

“Yea”

Max took his shirt and jeans off and crawled on to the bed but he stayed on top of the blankets…he wasn’t going to push it.

“Lacy ….I don’t know what else to say but I didn’t know she was going to be there I didn’t even see her walk in. Before I knew it…it…happened”

Lacy had tears in eyes again not because she had to hear what happened but because he seemed so upset about it….

“Lac…I swear..” but lacy put her hand over his lips to get him so she could say what she wanted to say.

“I heard what you said.” She saw Max’s eyes widen a little bit.

“I was in the bathroom and I heard everything Max…” but this time Max stopped her.

“Do you believe me”

Lacy didn’t say anything she didn’t know what to say…she did believe him she honestly did but that didn’t take the hurt away. But she had to take a leap of faith and trust his words no questions.

“She that after everything today hurt and rocked me to the core Max….” max put his head down because he felt the tears coming…he wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear what was coming next. He saw himself having to get up and get dressed and leaving without Lacy even though he realized he did in fact love her he just did it the hard way like he usually did things.

She pulled his head up and made him look at her for this next part… “but I love you…and I do believe you”

That was all Max needed to hear. He leaned in and kissed her just like her kissed for the first time about 2 months ago. He didn’t want to push his luck because he knew Lacy had been through hell tonight…

“I Love you Lacy”

Lacy smile and climbed out of the blanket that she had covered herself up with and climbed on top of Max and wrapped her legs around him and kissed him.

He had told himself that he wasn’t going to push anything because of everything that had happened since the last time that they had been like this but having her straddle him and kiss him like she was making it very hard to stick to that promise. He ran his tongue across her lips and slipped his tongue into her mouth searching for hers and pulled her closer to him. Lacy moaned into the kiss when he pulled closer to him because she felt just how bad he wanted her…just as bad she wanted him.

Max didn’t dare break the kiss as he slipped his hands underneath her tank top and up her back. It was his turn moan and he rubbed up her back and to her sides…she wasn’t wearing a bra. He slipped his hands back down to the bottom of her shirt and pulled it off…he broke the kiss so he could pull it over her head and instead of going back to her mouth he worked his way down her neck and loved the reaction he was getting from her.. Lacy tilted her head back so Max could have better access to her neck. She wrapped her arms around him again after having the shirt taken off of her and started to play with his hair that was getting a little long knowing he loved that when they were younger.

As much as Max loved having Lacy on top of him like this he had to move his legs were starting to tingle. He picked up just enough and laid her back on the bed and climbed on top of her and went back to her neck but didn’t spend much time there he moved his way down her body to her breast and immediately took it into his mouth and sucked just enough to move Lacy and get a louder moan out of her. Her hands went to his head and she ran her fingers through his hair as he continued to assault her breast and move to the other and then continue her body. She wanted to stop him again because no one had ever done the things he was doing to her before but she couldn’t get the words out she just wanted to feel. He pulled her shorts down her legs and off and then threw them to the ground. He lightly kissed his way up her leg and just looked up at her smirking when she started laughing.

“Max…stop…that….tickles” He just shook his head and continued kissing his way up her leg until he was kissing up her hip and over to her clit. He gently kissed around it and then took her into his mouth and moved his tongue around. He noticed the laughing had stopped he licked his way down her folds and pushed his tongue into her and brought his hand up to play with her…taking the time to look at her as her head threw back. “Max…oooo Max” He moved his way back up to her clit and took it back to his mouth and switched that with his fingers as he inserted two fingers into her and gently started pumping them in and out of her as her hips bucked up and he felt her walls tightening around his fingers. He kept pumping his fingers in and out of her flicked his tongue over her click. “OH MY GOD” Lacy’s head flew up as her orgasm raced through her body…she laid back down on the bed and Max kissed his way back up her body stopping at her neck right where it met her shoulder and then back up to her lips and kissed her slipping his tongue into her mouth as he took his fingers out of her. Lacy tried to control her breathing but Max was making that hard by kissing her like he was….he kissed his way back down to neck and over to her ear… “Did you like that baby” Lacy just nodded thinking she couldn’t form and coherent words but she brought her arms up and around Max rubbing down his side that she could reach and down to his boxers and slipped her hand in between them and into his boxers. She felt how hard he was and instinctively wrapped her hand around him and slowly started massage him which got a low growl…. “Lac” Max buried his head and started kissing her neck. She didn’t know where it came from because her brain wasn’t forming coherent thoughts yet but the moans that were coming out of his mouth kept her going knowing that he was enjoying it.

“Lac…Fuck” He breathing had picked up a lot he didn’t want to cum by getting a hand job that hadn’t happened in he didn’t know how long he wanted to be inside of her making her moan just as much as she was doing to him. He finally got enough will power to reach down and stop her hand which was hard because he was enjoying it.

“I want to be inside of you Lacy” and he moved her hand from his erection and started to pull down his boxers and climb on top of her. He used his finger just to make sure she was wet enough. He didn’t even care about the fact that he didn’t have a condom…after he moved his hand he plunged into her and started pumping in and out of her.

“OOOOOOOOO”

He put his head down and was losing his control but he slowed down enough and he remembered he was with Lacy but it felt to good to stop completely. Max leaned down and kissed her with as much passion as he could muster at the time…he wasn’t going to last much longer…

“O Lac….it feels so good.” Max started to pumping into her a little faster and deeper..

“Maxxxxx don’t stop Max” He started going even faster…feeling her walls tighten around his shaft but he didn’t want to stop he never wanted to it felt so good. “Lac…merde” he thrusted a few more times and then he couldn’t hold it anymore “ Maxxxx” Lacy screamed reaching her orgasm at the same time he was empting himself into her….

He wanted to hold most of his weight off her as possible but he was drained and collapsed…he couldn’t move even he wanted to. After a few minutes both of their breathing started to slow and Lacy picked her arm up and started to rub Max’s back. He finally was able to pick his head up and her gently kissed her…

“ I really do love you Lac”

“I love you to…” she kissed him “we can we do that often…

Max started laughing as he kissed her… “Damn Straight Baby” he put his head back down and they fell asleep exactly like that…both sleeping well because everything was they way they wanted it….

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 20

Lacy woke up at 6:30 when her phone started going off. It was time to go back to work. She tried to get up but she couldn’t move Max was practically on top of her…his face buried next to hers but she could hear him snoring just a little bit.

She started rubbing his back hoping to wake him up…but got nothing.

“Max” she said and kept rubbing her back….still nothing

She turned her head and looked at him….he was dead to the world.

“Max…” she had to get up and start getting ready for work….even if she was comfortable….

It became obvious to her that being gentle was not going to wake him up and moving wasn’t an option either. She had no clue what she was going to do….they only thing she could move was her head.

After laying there for a little bit she moved her head so she was kind of facing him…she leaned in and slowly started kissing along the side of his face….still nothing. She kept kissing him but moved her way over to his ear and took his ear lobe into his her mouth and gently started sucking at it….

This got movement out of Max but his body started responding before his brain…did. He moved his arm just enough to start rubbing up the side of her body to her breast and started massaging. He picked his head up just enough to get her to stop….but when he did she just looked at him…

“Good Morning”

“Not Yet” and he started moving his head closer to her and started to kiss along her neck…

“Maxxxx”

“Mmmm” but didn’t stop his assult on her neck…

“Maxxx…come on”

Max took this as her wanting him to start where they left off….so he moved his free hand back down her body and in between her legs…he gently rolled her clit between his two fingers. Not taking his eyes off of her face and her eyes closed and he head fell back onto the pillow.

“Maxxxx….” She knew she had to get ready for work but the things that Max was doing to her was making her want to stay in bed all day long….

Max stopped moving his fingers around her clit just long enough for Lacy to open her eyes…and he started to move down and slipping one finger into her.

“ I have to get ready for work Max”

“Later baby” he slipped another finger into her and started pumping them in and out of her.

As much as Lacy was enjoying everything….she forced her hand down and around and this got a huge smile out of Max and he moved so he was laying partly on his side so she could do what she did the night before. But instead she grabbed his wrist…

“ I really need to get ready for work…”

Max pulled his fingers out of her knowing that she was getting mad mostly because he was in shock…no one had been able to say no to him after they had started….but then again Lacy wasn’t your average girl.

Lacy looked at him….and then made her way out of bed over to her bag….Max not taking his eyes off of her because she was wearing nothing and with the erection he had right now because of her attack on his ear which he turned into more but who does that….apparently Lacy. Before he knew it she was in the bathroom with the door closed and he was left in bed with an aching hard on….and she was in the shower her heard the water. He was about to wrap his hand around himself but then got a better idea….he got up and headed to the bathroom to join her.

Lacy was in the shower trying to get ready for work as fast as she could because it took forever to wake Max up and then he took it to the next level. She could still feel the wetness in between her legs. She was really close to saying screw it and stay in bed and finish everything but if the previous times they had been together she would be late and she couldn’t let that happen. She was off in her own little world and didn’t hear the door to the shower slide open…she was completely oblivious to the new presence in the shower until she felt arms around her and lips on her shoulder blade working up to her neck.

She didn’t want to lean into him because she had to get ready but her body was reacting….and she leaned back into max.

“Hey Baby”

“Max I really have to get ready….”

“We won’t be long baby…trust me” He wasn’t going to be able to last long and after years of practice he was good at the quickie. He didn’t give her time to argue with her and moved his arm down the front of her body and back to her clit and slipped two fingers into her and quickly started pumping in and out of her. It didn’t take long for Lacy to reach her peak because of earlier and when Max felt her legs start to tremble he turned her around and moved her toward the wall picked up one of her legs and wrapped it around him…he slipped himself into her and quickly thrusting in and out of her until the moans started coming out of both of their mouths…It didn’t take long for Max to bring Lacy over the edge and he was right behind her emptying himself into her for the second time in less than 24 hrs.

They were both panting and Max was leaning against her. He picked his head up and turned to look at her who was looking at him…he lightly kissed her and moved her back underneath the water so they could clean up and she could get to work….

“told you baby”

----

Lacy walked into work at exactly 8:00 and didn’t even bother putting her stuff away she went to her first chart of the day…

“Running late”

Lacy rolled her eyes as Erin walked up to her. She really didn’t want to go back to her life…because everything seemed to be going wrong unless she was wrapped up in blankets with Max. Any other time people and their surroundings made things go wrong..

“No…I am here on time to get to work…”

“Why is your hair still wet”

“Because it is….” Lacy wanted to walk away…but Erin grabbed her arm…

“You have to be the stupidest girl in Pittsburgh.”

“Excuse me”

“You heard me....everyone saw you at diesel last night or at least I did….” She got a huge smile on her face and started to laugh

“Max Talbot does not date seriously…not even you…you are nothing special.”

After the past 24 hours had gone for her that just pushed Lacy over the edge… before she knew it she slapped Erin and when Erin brought her arm up to swing at Lacy….Lacy just swung and punched Erin right the face….

Dr Smithe saw this and got in between the two girls……and got hit by Erin who was trying to retaliate”

“BOTH OF YOU ARE DONE….GET YOUR THINGS AND GET OUT”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 17 & 18

Chapter 17


Max’s POV

It had already been a hell of a day. I got my ass chewed out at practice for not paying attention, Marc didn’t really help me and I still haven’t figured anything out for myself which leaves me wondering why the hell I am outside of Lacy’s door especially when I should be getting ready for my first game back.

I punched the wall I wasn’t ready to ring the doorbell yet hopefully she doesn’t walk out here. I know I could love her…hell maybe I do but the l word is a big thing…I wonder if I said because I took her….

“Damn it.”

I kept up my pacing not really sure what else to do…I have to figure this out. I said I didn’t want to hurt her but I listen to her voicemail again I that is exactly what I am doing by not talking to her.

Here goes nothing and I knock on the door. Hoping she answers and not her sister.

“YOU ASSHOLE”

I felt a fist connect with my face more so my nose …yea that hurts and I fell back grabbing my face…

-----

Lacy’s POV

I knew this was going to go nowhere. Lana pissed me off royally for someone who said she would be there no matter what she was doing shitty job of it. She said it was my life and if I wanted to give him another chance than I should and now the first sign of me being upset she calls both of my brothers and spills everything. I can tell they are mad. They still see the little sister who got her heart broken and now she is back with him…they want to protect me. I get that but I don’t need protecting anymore. I need Max to talk to me…hell we are adults.

I was getting ready to let Lana have it….I was so pissed. I was upset about Max but now I am just mad does no one trust me….I have always done the things they have asked even put on a front so they would worry…now look…but the doorbell to apartment stopped everything and I saw Landon walking over to answer the door…MY DOOR. That was when I heard it

“YOU ASSHOLE” I ran to the door just in time to see Landon punch Max square in the face and Max fall back grabbing his face…

“NO YOU ARE THE ASSHOLE..WHAT THE HELL LANDON” Then I looked down at Max who was getting back up and then I saw the blood…

“Max….” but he just held his hand up… I turned pushed Landon out of the way and ran to grab some towels. I walked back to the door where Max was still standing because Landon wouldn’t move and LJ was right behind him.

“MOVE YOU TWO. Max come here.”

I walk up to him and take his hand down put mine up there with the towel and led him into my room and slammed the door shut. My family had done enough already.

-----

Once Lacy got him into her room she went straight to her bathroom because she wasn’t going to get blood on her carpet no matter how much she loved him..

“Are you ok.”

Max didn’t say anything but just nodded even though his eyes were still watering….alot

Lacy got the blood stopped and then took another towel and started to clean him up so she could look at it…it was already swelling a lot…not a good sign..

Come on we have to go to the doctor….

“NO”

“Max you have to”

“I’m supposed to play tonight”

Lacy put her head down she felt so bad…so so bad. He had wanted to play so bad …hopefully it was just bruised and not broken.

“We have to go Max…we can go see the team.”

Max finally agreed to let Lacy drive him to arena to get his nose to get looked at. Neither of them said anything when they left her bedroom and made their way out to the car not before stopping in the kitchen to get ice.

On the way there Lacy knew he came over for a reason because even not playing he stuck to the routine he had on game days and today should have been no different but he came to see her.

“Did you want to talk Max?” she was terrified of what he was going to say.

Max took the ice off and looked over at her he couldn’t put it off anymore.

“Yea I did Lac…”

“OK”

“Do you think its possible to love someone after such a short period of time?”

“Well I don’t know…if you’re talking about us…I never fell out of love Max”

He got really quiet and looked out the window and then back at Lacy who had pulled into the parking lot at the arena.

“Lacy…I don’t know what to say…you are the only person I have ever said that word to. I care for you but I am not sure if it is there yet. I think I let that word slip” he was afraid to look at her

She looked at him…she didn’t know what to say…but she heard him he cared for not just sure if it was love yet…..was he scared…just like she still was.

“Sometimes things slip for a reason Max.” and opened the door to get out.

He sat there looking at her through the windshield of her car and was amazed…that went a lot better than he thought it would but he couldn’t get the last thing she said out of his mind…things slip for a reason. He got out of the car and went into the arena.

“Hey Max your back early…HOLY SHIT WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU” Chris said when he saw Max walk in.

“I met a fist…I’m fine but she wanted it looked at” he said pointing at Lacy who was just standing off to the side.

Chris looked over and just nodded and took Max back into the training room to look at his nose. Lacy was standing there when she saw Marc walking in.

“Lacy…”

“Hi,” she waved and looked over to where Max had gone not to long ago.

“What are you doing here? Is Max here already?”

“Yea” as Lacy answered Max walked out”

“Holy ….what happened”

“Her brother punched me when I knocked on the door. They don’t like me very much”

“I can see that”

Lacy decided to interrupt… “So…what did he say”

“It’s not broken just really bruised and its gonna be sore but I can play if I want to.” He leaned over to kiss Lacy and was surprised when she let him. He knew they still had to talk later.

She just nodded knowing that he was going to play so she decided to stay and watch…they could talk later.

Marc just looked at Max and Lacy and hoped that everything was ok.

Max took Lacy to the lounge and sat with her…they didn’t talk they just sat there until Vero got there and then went to get ready for his first game back.

_____________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 18

**** I’m not sure if anyone liked the last chapter I know it was short and not a lot happened so here is the second half of it….P.S. not really good at game summary stuff but ill try***

Lacy sat with Vero until it was time to go up to the seats that a lot of girlfriends sat in when they boys were playing. Since Max and Lacy had officially been back together he wasn’t playing so Lacy didn’t really worry about going. She saw the other girls and exchanged hellos and sat with Vero just waiting.

“You saw Max play before?”

“Yea…but we were young I didn’t really get to see him in juniors” Lacy didn’t want to go any further than that and was happy when Vero just nodded.

When the boys came out for warm-ups Lacy felt butterflies in her stomach. She couldn’t help it she had always loved watching Max play and here she was again at a rink watching him play hockey but this time his dream had come true he made to the NHL just like he always said. He eyes were glued to him…

“Lacy”

She didn’t move though she just sat there and watched.

“Lacy”

This time she turned to look

“What”

“Your phone is ringing” She looked down to her lap and checked the caller id and saw it was her sister…something she didn’t want to deal with that she was still mad and with the little bit of talking that her and Max did…she couldn’t deal with her sister and brothers right now…she wanted…no needed to make sure that Max and her would be ok.

She didn’t talk throughout the game really she was almost in a trance…she was watching because she loved watching but she was also watching because of his shoulder and his face every time he got shoved into the board she closed her eyes and just hoped that he got up, which he did. When he scored his goal late in the game she jumped up with everyone else in the arena she was so happy and he was going to be ecstatic and would want to celebrate…she did to but she also wanted to talk…but every time the thought crept into her head she told herself she wouldn’t push Max had to do this on his terms.

Max couldn’t have had a better night well on the ice anyway…everything else well wasn’t that great. He knew Lacy was upset he could tell because she wouldn’t talk and then getting punched in the face that just wasn’t supposed to happen but his night on the ice was great especially for a first night back.

Lacy waited in the same lounge with Vero and some of the other girls why the guys got ready. Lacy was grateful for the distraction. After awhile Max walked back out in the clothes he was wearing beforehand He should have been in a suit like all the other guys but given the afternoon he wasn’t

“Hey” he said as he walked over to Lacy and bent down kiss her lightly on the cheek. He wanted more but still wasn’t sure of what to do.

“Hi…you played great”

“Thanks”

“What no comment about being superstar” Jordan walked up laughing…

“Superstar?” lacy questioned but laughed knowing that was the Max she knew.

“She already knows” Max said laughing back at Jordan as Lacy started to laugh to.

“Feel like going out for a bit” Max looked at Lacy he really wanted to go, he knew that they had to talk he hadn’t forgotten he just didn’t know what to say about the last thing she said yet….he still was thinking on it.

“Ummmm.” She paused and looked at Max knowing that he really wanted to go because it was his first game back “ sure for a little bit ok?”

Max flashed that smile that always got Lacy and kissed her on the cheek. He got up off the couch and reached his hand out for her so they could head over to Diesel.

When they got there they went right to VIP and got their drinks and found seats on the couches and just let loose for a bit. Max was having a great time. Sure he had gone out with the boys when he wasn’t playing but….this was different he felt like he was part of the team again…he was contributing to the winning and the meant the world to him and he realized as he saw Lacy sitting there with the other girlfriends that it meant the world that she was here….

Lacy was sitting around with the other girlfriends…it felt great. She had even forgotten about earlier for the most part. She loved seeing Max this way…and she was his and her to enjoy it with him.

“I’m going to get another drink” She looked over at Max as she got up who just winked at her.

Lacy was up getting her drink when a couple of girls walked up to her. They hadn’t been part of the group she had been talking to.

“Hi”

“Hi”

“So who are you here with”

“Why is that any of your business”

“Your new we just have to make sure your not moving in on our guys”

“Your guys?” Lacy looked at the two girls who were blocking her way back to the couch and Max.

“That is what we said plus we have friends “

“Excuse me” Lacy pushed her way through the girl just in time to see Katie put herself on Max’s lap. She wanted to move…but she couldn’t it was like she was frozen in place. The other two girls from the bar walked by laughing at her. It was then that Lacy knew they walked up to her for a reason and the reason was sitting on her boyfriends lap. Before she knew it Katie had put her lips on to Max’s. Lacy felt the tears falling down her face and she couldn’t see anything anymore because of the tears.

Max was trying to push her away. He looked up to see Lacy just standing there in the middle of room and he could see the tears…

“You Bitch” Max said to Katie and got up and walked over to Lacy Vero hot on his trail.

It wasn’t until Lacy wiped her face and saw Max coming her way that she was able to make her legs move…she turned around and found the nearest bathroom and just locked the door.

“LACY…LET ME IN….LACY” Max was yelling at the door but she didn’t answer”

“LAC….COME ON” He kept knocking on the door but after awhile he stopped and just slid down the wall and sat there and put his head in his hands.

“Max”

He hoped it was Lacy and just started talking without moving his head “I didn’t kiss back…I didn’t even want her near me…I tried to move but I couldn’t I was between Sid and Flower and I couldn’t move….” he felt tears run down his face… …he was losing her…it was at that moment that nothing slipped the other night he did really love her. “Lac…I Love you…I do…I’m not just saying it because of everything…I do…you were right things slip for a reason but this isn’t a slip I love you” He was flat out crying now he didn’t even notice how much his face hurt when he wiped his eyes…He just wanted Lacy.

He looked up and Vero…who was standing there and her mouth was hanging open like she couldn’t believe what she just heard but looking into his eyes she knew..she even had tears in her eyes.

“you should go home....let me talk to her”



Max just nodded becuase the door still hadn

t moved...



"Vero please" Max looked at her like his life depended it...



Vero just nodded as Marc came and took Max out the back of the club and to his house....