Emador: Glad you liked it! There will be more drama later, but for the next few chapters, it will be a lot of fun stuff. Thanks for the review!

Meadow567: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked it!

Nelliebly413672: Yeah, Jack finally stopped being an ass. I'm glad you liked it and thanks for reviewing!

surfer-kel: I'm glad you liked his apology speech. I had to make Maddie forgive him, because I couldn't stand them fighting anymore. I like writing fluff too! Thanks for the review!

Flowers781: So many questions... but I don't think I want to answer any, yet. But you are onto something with a few things. :) You'll find out about the parents flipping this chapter. (Well, actually you'll only find out whether Jack's parents flip. Maddie won't tell her parents for a few more chapters.) Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you liked it!

Lien-Wan: Thank you! It means a lot to me that you like reading it and you like it,and thanks for taking the time to review! And I'm glad you're happy that Jack finally stopped being an idiot.

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews! I hope you all like this one too. I am going on vacation in a few days (Tuesday), so just to let you know, there will only be one or two more updates before I leave. I wanted to let you all know so you wouldn't think I disappeared or something, lol. Enjoy the chapter and please review!

Chapter 11

September 17, 1979

After two weeks of traveling Europe and playing hockey, it was almost time to leave. There were only two more games in Norway before they went back to Minnesota. The team did well so far, and only lost two of the eight games. Everyone was very relieved it was almost over, even Herb. They were all sick of sleeping in hotels and tired from the traveling, especially the guys on the team. The night of the second last game, it definitely showed.

At seven o'clock, the puck was dropped. To say the boys weren't ready for the game was an understatement. They were playing worse than they had so far, even though the score was tied. Anyone watching the game wouldn't have a clue that the guys have been practicing for a few months and playing games for the last two weeks. Maddie knew they should be beating this team, and from the look on Herb's face, he thought so too.

It didn't help that some guys thought checking out girls would be more worth their time. Maddie just hoped Herb wouldn't notice. Too late, Maddie thought as Herb looked at the guys talking about the girls.

The buzzer sounded, ending the game, but Maddie had a feeling the team would get a long talking to. She was surprised when Herb told everyone to get back on the ice.

The guys followed his orders and got on the line. They knew what was coming, lots of Herbies, but nothing could have prepared them for forty-five minutes of them. Craig blew the whistle again and again, skating the boys hard.

Sure, they deserve some punishment, thought Maddie, but this is excessive. Maddie thought the guys would be done for sure when the rink manager turned off the lights, but Herb wasn't ready to go yet.

"Everybody, get back on that line!" Herb yelled angrily. The guys again followed his orders as Herb continued to skate them. Maddie was getting worried. They all looked like they were about to collapse.

"Again!" Herb yelled. Craig hesitated and Herb told him to blow the whistle. Doc was getting fed up too. No one except Herb seemed to see the point in skating the team that much. Maddie didn't know how much longer she could take watching them.

"Again!" Herb yelled this time with more force than before. Before Craig blew the whistle, Rizzo interrupted him.

"Mike Eruzione, Winthrop, Massachusetts!" he yelled between breaths.

"Who do you play for?" Herb asked.

"I play for," he took a breath, struggling to get the words out, "the United States of America."

"That's all gentlemen," Herb said walking away.

Maddie ran out onto the ice, wanting to make sure everyone was okay. Most of the guys were trying to get their breathing back at a normal rate. Others collapsed on the ice and made no effort to move. She got to Jack first.

"Baby, are you okay?"

"I will be," Jack said hunched over and breathing heavy. "Just give me a year or two." Maddie smiled. Even in the worst situations, Jack would do his best to make her smile. She went to check on Rizzo next.

"Hey." He looked up with an exhausted look on his face. "How did you know that's what Herb wanted to hear?"

"I didn't. But after skating us that much, I knew he wanted someone to do something, and that seemed right."

"Well, great job. I think everyone will be thanking you."

"Yeah, as soon as they can breathe enough to talk." Maddie left Rizzo and checked on some other guys.

"Maddie, I hope you're not too tired tonight," Buzz said.

"Well, not tired at all compared to how you guys must feel."

"Good, cause you're going to have a long line tonight," he said, referring to massages.

By the time the guys all managed to get changed, most were too tired to even stick around for massages. They all just went back to the bus and slept until they arrived at the hotel.

The next day, the guys played Norway again, this time shutting them out and winning nine to nothing. Everyone was happy to be flying back to Minnesota the next day, no matter how early they had to be up.

That morning, Maddie woke up to see Jack already awake and looking at her. She smiled and yawned.

"How long have you been up?"

"Not long. Only a few minutes," Jack replied.

"What were you doing?"

"Watching my amazing girlfriend sleep," he replied, smiling. Maddie blushed and Jack continued. "You looked so beautiful and peaceful."

"What time is it?"

"Ten to eight."

"You do realize we have to be on the bus in an hour right?"

"Yeah, we've got time." Jack leaned closer to her, kissing her temple and then sat up and leaned over her. He pulled the down the covers so they were no longer covering her stomach and softly rubbed it. He slid the Boston University hockey shirt up that she was wearing and leaned down. Jack gently kissed Maddie's stomach and she smiled.

"How's my little baby doing today?" Jack asked softly, talking to Maddie's still flat stomach. Maddie laughed at this sight. She never thought in a million years he would do that. It was a totally different side of him, and one that Maddie didn't see very often.

"Jack, I hate to break up your bonding session with our baby, but we really need to get ready." That being said, Jack immediately went back to his normal self.

"Okay fine. Let's go take a shower," he said, with Maddie immediately knowing what he was trying to do. Jack grabbed her hand, pulling her up off of the bed.

"Jaaack. We need to get ready," Maddie said in protest.

"I know," he said, kissing her quickly. "Which is why taking a shower together makes sense. We'll go faster that way."

"No, you'll just get distracted."

A knock on the door then distracted them both. Jack went to answer it, and Maddie took this chance to get in the shower before he was finished talking to whoever was at the door.

"Hey guys," Jack said to Mac and Mark. "What's going on? I'm surprised to see you here this early."

"We're hungry and going to get breakfast. You and Maddie want to come?"

"Are you leaving now?"

"In a few minutes. We're seeing who else wants to go with us."

"Sure. I'm hungry. Where are you going?"

"There's a little place across the street. The hotel's restaurant downstairs doesn't have anything good."

"Give us fifteen minutes and we'll go with you," Jack said, knowing Maddie would probably be hungry.

"Okay."

Jack thinking Maddie was hungry was an understatement. She ate more than anyone else there. Almost everyone there got scrambled eggs with toast and bacon. The portions were big and very filling. Hardly any of the guys finished their breakfast because they were in a hurry. As soon as they got the bill, they paid quickly because they were supposed to be on the bus in five minutes.

"Jack?" Maddie said just before they were ready to leave.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to eat that?" she asked, pointed to the remaining piece of bacon.

"No." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Maddie took it and ate it.

"Hungry?" Rizzo asked.

"I was starving," Maddie said smiling, her mouth still full of bacon.

"Want the rest of this toast?" asked Bah.

"Yeah, can I?" Bah handed it to her and she ate that too. Buzz offered her some leftover toast, and she ate that as well. The guys were looking at her like she was crazy.

"What? I'm hungry and eating for two," she said smiling, explaining herself. The guys laughed.

"You're like a bottomless pit Maddie," Mac commented.

"No, she's like Rizzo when he has a plate of meatballs," Jimmy said, making everyone laugh harder.

The flight seemed longer on the way home than the way there, but they ended up finally landing in Minnesota at one in the afternoon. Herb gave the guys the rest of the day off. Most were too tired to do anything, so they hung around the dorms. Maddie made homemade pizza for dinner, and everyone stopped by her room for some. When Mac showed up, Maddie was surprised to see a girl with him.

"Hey Maddie, I hope you don't mind, but I brought my girlfriend, Laura."

"No, I don't mind. Nice to meet you," Maddie said, shaking her hand. Laura was a typical blonde. She was tall and thin, but Maddie didn't think she was all that pretty. The other guys seemed to think she was all right looking though. Laura's extremely short skirt made her legs appear even longer, and her tight shirt helped to show off her chest and flat stomach.

"Hey Laura," Jack said from across the room. Maddie immediately wondered how Jack knew her, getting a little jealous, but as other guys said hi as well, she figured all the guys knew who she was.

"Do you guys want some pizza?" Maddie asked.

"I'll have some," Mac said.

"No thanks," said Laura. "I had salad a little while ago."

Salad? Maddie thought. No wonder she's so thin.

A half hour later, everyone had finished dinner, and Maddie was in the kitchen cleaning up. Laura and the guys were all in the other room playing drinking games, which Laura had suggested. Maybe she should have thought of something we all could do, Maddie thought bitterly, as she couldn't play with them. Then she reasoned, It's not like she knows I'm pregnant, though.

"Hey Maddie, can I help with anything?" Laura asked, coming in the kitchen.

"If you want to. But don't feel you have to if you were in the middle of a game or anything." Maddie said.

"I'll dry some dishes," Laura offered.

As they were cleaning the kitchen, it was silent except for the water running and dishes clattering. It wasn't really an awkward silence. The two were just busy putting things away. Once they were done, Maddie thanked Laura and she went back in with the guys. Maddie had really wished Gail could have come tonight, but unfortunately she was already busy. She knew she would have enjoyed Gail's company as opposed to Laura's, who wasn't Maddie's favorite person to be around.

Later that night, after everyone had left, Jack and Maddie they were sitting on his bed, relaxing. They enjoyed the comfortable silence. Maddie began thinking about the baby and everything she had to do over the next few months. Jack brought her out of her thoughts.

"Ready?" he asked. Maddie knew exactly what he was referring to. She had just been putting it off.

"I guess."

"My parents won't be mad. Trust me. Maybe a little shocked, but not upset." Jack was almost positive his mother would be excited. After all, Jack told her that he bought Maddie an engagement ring, so it wasn't as if he wasn't going to marry her.

"You're lying," Maddie said. "You're only saying that to make me feel better. I mean, we're not married. You're in the Olympics, I'm ruining your life, and they won't be happy, so don't give me that."

"Stop that right now," Jack said, raising his voice. "You are not ruining my life. Never, ever, say that." Maddie didn't look at him, and Jack turned her around in his arms so she was now facing him. "Hear me? Don't ever say that."

"I just don't want your parents to flip out."

"They won't. Let's just call." Jack picked up the phone and handed it to Maddie, then got up to get the other phone so they could be on at the same time. As Jack guessed, his mother answered.

"Hey Mom," Jack started.

"Jack! How are you?"

"I'm good. We just got back from Europe. Maddie's on too."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Hi Maddie. How are you?"

"I'm okay, Mary, how are you?" she answered, using Mrs. O'Callahan's first name. Jack's parents insisted that Maddie call them by their first names, Dan and Mary.

"What's wrong?" Mary asked, concerned, thinking something was wrong due to Maddie's answer of 'okay.'

"First let's talk about the games Jack played so well in," Maddie suggested.

"How was it?"

"Well, for the most part, it went pretty well," Jack answered. "I'd rather not talk about the first Norway game though. That was pretty bad. How about we talk about the real reason we called?" Jack said. Maddie shot him a look across the room to where he was standing.

"Okay," Jack's mother said a little too happily. Jack had a feeling he knew what his mother was expecting to hear. Since she knew that he was planning on proposing after the games, he was guessing that she thought he did it early.

"Can you put dad on too?" Jack asked very seriously. Sensing his serious tone, Jack's mother knew she wasn't going to hear what she first expected.

"Okay sure."

A minute later, Jack's dad was on the phone too. After saying hello, Jack was ready to get to the point. Maddie was too. She felt like if it went on much longer, she would throw up. Her stomach was doing flip flops in anticipation of the conversation that was about to take place.

"Mom, Dad. We have something to tell you." After a short pause Jack continued. "Maddie's pregnant."

"What!" exclaimed Jack's mom, clearly shocked. Jack's dad didn't say anything.

"We're having a baby."

"Oh my God! I don't believe it!" Mary went on.

"You're pregnant?" said Dan.

"Yeah," said Jack, answering for Maddie.

"Oh my God!" said Jack's mom again, still trying to comprehend what Jack said.

"How far along are you?" asked Jack's dad.

"Eighteen weeks," Maddie answered.

"That's almost half way!" said Jack's mom. "You must have known a long time."

"Yeah, I guess," Maddie admitted. Maddie was worried about what Jack's parents thought. Mary seemed to be sort of excited, but Dan really hadn't said anything.

"Have you picked out names yet?" Jack's mother asked.

"No, we really haven't talked much about the baby yet," Maddie said, accidentally. She knew right away what his parents would assume.

"You've probably had at least fifteen weeks or so to talk," Mary started. Maddie immediately covered for Jack.

"Yeah but with all of the practices and games, we've been so busy."

"Maddie, don't cover it up," Jack started. "The truth is, I was a complete idiot for a couple weeks and I didn't take it so well. After I got over myself though, we have been really busy."

"Jack, can I talk to you alone for a minute?" his dad asked.

"Sure, Maddie will hang up now." Maddie hung up the phone, but continued to listen to the one side of the conversation.

"Yes dad . . . yeah I know . . . no . . . I know dad . . . okay . . . I'm fine . . . yeah, actually, it's sort of exciting . . . okay, I will . . . thanks, you too . . . "

When Maddie heard Jack say he was excited, a big smile spread across her face. She wasn't totally sure he was referring to the baby, but that's what she was guessing. Jack started talking again, this time to his mother.

"Hi mom . . . yeah . . . I'm treating her fine . . . don't worry, I'm not being a jerk anymore . . . " Jack smiled and looked at Maddie, "yeah . . . she thought you guys would be pissed . . . no, I will . . . mom, not now . . . yes soon . . . I can't talk to you about this anymore . . . mom, Maddie's sitting right here . . . okay . . . here she is . . . love you too, bye."

Jack finished his conversation and told Maddie to pick up the other phone.

"Hi Mary."

"Congratulations, sweetie!"

"Thanks."

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm not angry. I'm surprised, very surprised, but not upset."

"Thanks Mary. I just thought with me and Jack not being married, and everything, that you and your husband would be upset."

"Well, in any other situation I would be, but Jack already told me . . . " Mary stopped suddenly, and Maddie thought it seemed like Mary almost said something Maddie wasn't supposed to know. Maddie quickly dismissed the thought as Mary continued on again. "I'm just so excited to be a grandmother."

"Well, I'm glad you're not angry."

"I can't wait to go shopping for the baby. Keep me updated on everything. And make sure Jack gets you whatever you want. He should be waiting on you hand and foot."

"Thanks, Mary. I'll keep that in mind," Maddie said, laughing.

"Okay. Keep me updated on everything."

"I will."

"Thanks. I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay, Bye." Maddie hung up the phone and Jack came over to sit on the bed. He started rubbing Maddie's back and then wrapped her in a hug.

"See. I told you they would take it well."

"Is your dad mad?" Maddie wondered. He didn't say much on the phone, so Maddie didn't know if he was upset.

"No, that's what we were talking about. He's not mad at you, because he assumed it was my fault. Which it was."

"It wasn't your fault, Jack."

"Well, it wasn't yours either."

"We're both in this together. And we were both there."

"Fine, so it's both of our faults. But anyway, he thought that it was my fault because I pressured you or something. He also assumed that I would do something stupid and leave you."

"Oh, okay," Maddie said somewhat assured. Now that Jack's parents knew, the only thing left was telling her parents. Maddie knew that wouldn't go nearly as well.

A/N: Hope you liked it. I love reviews, like I've said before. They're greatly appreciated and the more I get, the sooner I will post the next chapter, which means the more chapters I will post before I go away. :)