Forever and Ever;;35

Finally, Ozzie got up slowly after a few minutes. There was alot of mixed feeling about the hit. You can think what you want, but even if Ozzie did do something to Ribeiro, you don't slash someone like that. He took two nights of frustration out on Ozzie. But things only got better in game three. Datsyuk got a hat trick to help us win the game 5-2. I had a deep gut feeling that we wern't going to be able to sweep Dallas. They were too good of a team. I was pretty sure they would get a win in game four. Little did I know, I was right. Homer's rear end got in the way to much and drew the Ref's attention. They were watching his every move. In the second period the Ref's waved of a goal by Pavel, saying that Holmstrom rear interfered with Turco. Which he didn't.

I was sick of being in Dallas. I just wanted to go home and get this series over and done with. The sires lasted longer than I expected. We lost again in game five. Mostly because of bad line changes, and Turco was amazing. He got his first career win at the Joe.
I walked down the hallway, surrounded by pictures of many of the old time Red Wings. I stopped at Stevie Y's picture. I missed him. Right now was a time when we needed him most. He always knew the right things to say at times like this. He never game himself credit. It was always a team effort to him. Stevie deserved to win another cup with us. I was sad he wasn't out there playing with the guys.

I walked down the rest of the hallway where I found a ton of reporters who surrounded me. "Miss Maltby, can we get a comment about the past few games?" One asked. I usually tried to avoid reporter unless they were Mickey, Ken, or Larry. but, I had nothing else better to do and I knew they guys were going to be in a bad mood. I sighed. "Well, the past few games have been really tough on the guys, but we will pull through."I left them at that and pushed past the all to familiar door. The room was silent, which I hated. i walked past Aaron and over to Homer. "God, your ass his huge. Just kidding. Those calls were ridicules."
"No kidding." He muttered. The only other thing he managed to say was "I should lose weight." Same old Homer. Was able to make a joke out of anything. I walked to where Morgan and Val were sitting.
"Hey!" I screeched. Morgan jumped and and gave me a hug.
"We need to do something and soon." She told me.
I was about to say something when Jimmy was tugging on my jersey, ready to leave.
"Ill call you" I told her, and walked out the door.
***

Forever and Ever;;34

I tried to take what Jimmy said, and make myself feel better about the whole situation. But it wasn't really helping. What he said kept running through my mind, over and over again. I'm thinking about going back to Grand Rapids. I tried to take my mind off of it, but nothing seemed to help. I was hoping I would soon forget.

I woke up the next morning with a terrible stomach ache. I still hadn't gotten my period. So it was time to go to the doctor. I told Jimmy where I was going. He seemed concerned. We had been so careful. Nothing like this was supposed to happen.

I walked into the cold doctors office, which was full off little kids and prenant women. I took a deep breath and sat on a blue leather couch. I watched most of the kids run around and play with toys while I sat there. I loved kids, but I wasn't ready to have one of my own just yet. I was hoping I was just off. And it would be no big deal. I expected the worst.
As time went by I started to feel more uncomfortable sitting there. Finally they called my name. I was in such a daze I jumped. I sat up on the doctors table, and waited. Finally or a tall, dark haired male, stood in front of me.
"What can I do for you today hun?" He asked.
"Uhm, well you see. I'm about two and a half weeks late. I have been having terrible stomach aches also."
"Well let me see what I can do for you then."
I nodded and he took blood from my right arm.
"You're all set hun. We will call you within the next few days."

On the drive home my mind went crazy. How do I tell my parents. What will they say. Maybe I'm not even pregnant. I didn't know who to tell or how to act. Be excited or be scared. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was going to dread the next couple of days. But I had to get through them, one way or another.
***
That night before the game I sat at the locker next to Aaron.
"Are you alright?" He asked "You look really pale."
My face brightened "I'm great!" Aaron could see right through me. He knew something was wrong. He shook his head. "Tell me." I looked around the locker room and then leaned into Aaron. My lips brushed against his ear. "I think I'm pregnant."
"No way!" He laughed.
"Its really not funny."
"Who have you told?"
"Just you and Jimmy. I plan on telling Morgan." Just then Babs called the guys to the bench. Aaron stood up "We'll talk later." "Okay."
We beat Dallas again that night 2-1. At the end off the game I focused my attention on Ozzie. Just then Mike Rabeiro skated towards Ozzie and hit him with a two handed slash and he fell to the ice. The referee blew the whistle and Draper roughed up Ribeiro behind the net. It was completely uncalled for. I got out of my seat and started danging on the glass, like everyone around me. I noticed the broken stick on the ice and Ozzie still down. Was this Jimmy's chance?

Forever and Ever;;33

That night we played Dallas. This was where we got set back the previous season against Anaheim. I was really hoping we wouldn't have a repeat. Jimmy and I hadn't talked at all that day. Sure we crossed paths but he didn't dare to say anything to me. He probably thought all of this was going to blow over. But it wasn't.



That night against Dallas I walked into the locker from after the pre-game skate. I sat next to Jimmy, not saying anything to him. I turned my attention to the door where Ozzie came in. He squirted me with his water bottle. "Get up." He said with a huge grin. I was sitting at his locker. I shook my head "No! You can sit your ass on the ground." I had always messed with Ozzie like that. He picked on me ever since I was little. He looked around for a second, and sat down on the ground, and started taking off his skates. I laughed and he glared back at me. "I'll get you back don't worry." "Sure NOgood."


I looked over at Jimmy who hadn't said a word to me that whole day. "Let's talk later. Alright?" I asked him. He sent me a small smile and said "Okay." Before he had to head to the ice I wrapped him a warm hug. I pulled back and he kissed my forehead. "I'll be watching."I assured him.


That night was rough but we did come out and beat Dallas in a huge 4-1 win. That was a way to open a series. My stomach hurt through the whole game. I wanted to get home and talk to Jimmy about Grand Rapids, but I knew it wasn't going to be pretty.

***

Once we got back to the apartment that night. i sat down on the bed and waited for Jimmy.

"Tell me what's going on?" I asked him.

"I'm not planning on going to GR. I was just thinking, that if Detroit doesn't want me back next season that's where I might go."

"Seriously, I used to know your every thought. Now I don't even know what goes on in that head of yours!"

"I'm sorry."

"I really wish sorry fixed things."

"You know I would never pick hockey over you."

"Dont say that. You career is nore important than me. And I expect it to be."

"It never is, or will be."

Forever and Ever;;32

I woke up the next morning for find the bedroom door still closed. I sighed and sat up. Since I had knowone to play hockey with I decided to go running. I walked into the bedroom to find Jimmy half asleep. I walked over to my part of the closet and took out a pair of shorts and a Red Wings hoodie. I looked over at Jimmy who motined for me to come and lay with him. I ran my fingers through my curly hair and shook my head "No".

"Come on!" He said.

I shook my head again. "You know Jimmy. I guess I know how much I mean to you. And everything we have been through together is a joke."

"I sorry. Its just...."

I didn't want to hear his point of view about it. He had been pretty straight forward about it last night.

"Save it Jimmy." And I closed the door behind me.

I put my head phones in my ears and began running. It had been a while but I could still do distance. I did alot of thinking. If Jimmy wants to go back to GR then I shouldn't keep him from doing it. Its his carrer not mine. Before I knew it I was standing in front of the Gordie Howe entrence at the Joe. The Joe wasn't that far from our apartment. Threee miles maybe. I stood there with mt hands on my hips just looking at it. So many memories had veen made there. I can't go with him. My whole life is here. I thought to myself again. My mind was telling me to go in, play some hockey. My body was telling me no. But right now, I had no energy to play hockey. I was just too worn out. Physiclly and emotionally. I sat myself down on the steps and burried my face in my knees.

I sat there for a few minutes before I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around to see our zambonie driver Al.

"You want in?" He asked.

"Sure."

Al unlocked the doors from me. And I walked into the locker room. I turned my attention to Jimmys locker. I took a picture off one of the magnets a staired at it. It was the two of us. Some night when we went out with the guys. Jimmy was sitting on a bar stool and I was sitting on his lap. I picked up the next one. It was of Meech, Aaron, Jimmy and I. I had my hands on my hips as the rest of the guys surronded me making funny faces, I couldn't help but laugh. It was probably my favorite picture of all time. I walked past Aaron's locker to see a bunch of photos also. He had a ton of us together. And a few when we were with the guys. Leaving Detroit...was not something I wanted to do.

Forever and Ever;;31

After sweeping the Avs those nights, we got on Red Bird II and went back home to Detroit. I decided to go to my parents house for a while. As soon as I walked in the door my four year old sister Ella ran up to me and gave me a big hug. Even though she was four she was my biggest fan. "I made this for you!" She told me as she handed me a picture she had colored. "Oh its so pretty." I said while picking her up. And she gave me that same look she had given me since she was four months old. I glanced over at my mom Wendy who was having twins in July. She was getting big. I put Ella down and ran over to her. Gave her a hug, and put my ear down to he stomach, so I could hear them kick. I stayed at the house the rest of the day playing with El. She wanted to show me all of her new toys. So I willingly let her. My dad had already had Ella on skates when she was two. So by four she didn't skate to bad for her age.

I walked into the kitchen as my mom was doing dishes. "Hey Mom?"

"Yeah hun?"

"Where's Justin?"

"I never know where that boy is anymore. Probably out playing hockey somewhere.Why?"

"I haven't talked to him in months."

I gave my mom, dad, and Ella hugs before I left. I looked down at my phone. It was ten and Jimmy hadn't called once which is strange. If I wasn't at the apartment, he always called. Once I got inside I noticed a six pack on the counter. 'Great' I thought. 'This will be fun.' I walked into the bedroom to find Jimmy sitting on the bed.

"Hey babe." I said.

He didn't even say anything. Didn't even look at me.

"Okay Jimmy. What your deal lately?"

"What are you talking about?" He began to get snappy.

"You don't call me anymore. You never want to do anything. You won't even play hockey with me!"

"I have been doing alot of thinking lately."

"And...."

"I'm been thinking about going back to Grand Rapids."

"What?" I screamed.

"I'm sick of not getting that much playing time. If I was in GR then I would be getting a ton more."

"Jimmy guys dream of being in the NHL you don't know how lucky you are. If you're going to Grand Rapids, you know I'm not coming with you."

"I know...."

My jaw dropped. I took a pillow from the bed and slammed the door behind me. I camped out on the couch the rest of the night.

Forever and Ever;;30

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" I paused. "Oh my god, I'm not even making any sense!"

Jimmy puts his arm over my shoulder. "Just tell me what's going on?"

"Its exactly what I said. I'm late."

He looks down at the floor and then back up at me.

"Listen. I'm going to wait a week and if I don't get it, then I will go to the doctor. No worries!"

"Alright."

***

The first two games against the Avs went well. And we beat them in both games. And when we went to Colorado, things didn't change. The first night we were in Colorado I sat in the hotel room flipping through channels. My cell phone starting playing "Uhh me so horny" It was my ring tone for Aaron now.It fit him pretty well. I saw Jimmy give me a weird look from across the room. I laughed and picked up the phone.

"Hey loser." I said.

"Hey slut. Want to get a bite to eat with the guys?"

"Sure. Give me five minutes."

"Ok I will see you down in the lobby. Hey, since when do you not moan when you hear me on the phone. I know my voice is pretty sexy."

I shook my head. "See you in five"

I threw on a light green tank top and black pants.

"Ohh Hot Howie!" I yelled.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to get a bite with the guys. You want to come?"

"Nah, go ahead."

I was almost shocked. He had always came along when the guys and I went places. For now I shrugged it off and got in the elevator down to the lobby. When I got there I saw Aaron, Derek, Ozzie, Homer, Johan, Sammy, and Nick.

"Homer!" I jumped his back. "For sure." He said. I laughed. I had always made fun of him for saying 'for sure' too much.

Aaron couldn't have picked a worse place to go. It was filled with Avs fans. After we got our meal and had been talking for awhile. I heard someone yell from across the room "Detroit still sucks!" Aaron had been sitting across from me so he must have knew who said it. He pushed out his chair and stood up. "If you got something to say, let's take it outside!" I buried my face in my hands as we walked out of the restaurant. He was getting in the guys face so I took his arm trying to hold him back, but he shook it free.

I flinched and said "Ohhh" as Aaron punched him and he fell to the concrete. I came around to stand in front of Aaron.

"Don't mess with a hockey player bitch!" He yelled

"Aaron! They're going to call the cops. Lets get out of here."

He agreed and we ran to the cars. I couldn't help but uncontrollably laugh when we got in the car. Aaron was breathing heavily as if he had just ran a mile.

"That felt good."

Forever and Ever;;29

I saw a note hung by a magnet on the fridge.


Madison, went to practice early. Be home around two. Love, Jimmy.





I ran into the bathroom and searched through the cabinets trying to find cough drops. No such luck. I threw on a old pair of sweatpants and a wings hoodie headed to the drugstore. I searched up and down the aisle from cough drops but came across the 'feminine products'.


"Oh god." I thought to myself. "How late am I?"


I counted the weeks since my last. I was a week and a half late. Not good......





Once I got back to the apartment I sat down on the couch with a million thoughts going through my head. I can't have a baby. There's no way I'm pregnant. How could this happen? Whats Jimmy going to say. I tried to take my mind off of it but nothing helped. Hockey. That's what would help. I backed up all of my equipment into the back of the car and headed down to a local rink. I ended up playing with a few teenagers who needed a goalie. I was happy to help them win. Even though the cold are made my throat feel like it was on fire.


***


Once I got back I noticed Jimmy sitting on the couch watching Miracle. He paused the movie and got up to give me a hug. I pushed past him into the bedroom where I threw down my hockey stuff.


"What's wrong?"


"Nothing!" I screamed.


"Is it that time of the month again or something?"


I long and awkward silence followed.

"It's supposed to be." I told him