Can't Stop Now

Written by BurntOrange

Disclaimers: Same as Chapter 1

Author's Note: Wow. It's over. And I am oddly excited—probably because I have a new story in the works so I won't be lonely. The title of it will be (very likely) Caring is Creepy…and yes, I am keeping up with naming everything after songs. I love music and suggesting music to other people and I guess this is my way of doing it to y'all. Thank you for your loyal readership—it's been wonderful getting feedback from you all.

So stay tuned for a new story—new adventures with Robbie (I just love writing his character) and Rachel (again, very likely). It'll be a fun story (I hope). Rachel is/will be very much different than Natalie, but still similar…

Song: "Life is Beautiful" by Vega4

December 1983. Natalie went to a bar after work with a few of her fellow co-workers. Life had been good, great actually. Being a nurse practitioner brought a new-found passion to her career, she had more time with her patients where she got to actually talk and get to know them instead of having to spend all of her time with them taking their blood, blood pressure, temperature, and etc.

She wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings or the people around her as she joked and drank with her friends. That was until one of them stepped away from her to go to the bathroom, giving her a clear view of him. Natalie felt her stomach plummet and chest fill with butterflies. She had been hoping and praying to see him once she heard that the coach of the Rangers had changed.

Natalie walked up to him, smiling, "I've been hoping you'd come here sooner or later."

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Months later, she was entering the Nat King Cole bar at the St. Regis hotel. Natalie quickly scanned the bar, looking for the person she was meeting there. Seeing his familiar silhouette, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Rizzo! It's been too long, how are you?"

Rizzo immediately stood up and hugged her, "It's great to see you Natalie…I'm doing pretty well. What about yourself? You've had a complete transformation since I've seen you last." They both sat down and Natalie ordered herself a drink as they quickly caught each other up about their lives.

"Well, I have a new girlfriend…a different one than the one you met when you were in Boston last year…"

"Really? What is she like?"

Rizzo grinned sheepishly, "Her name is Meredith and she owns a small fashion boutique. Since I've started to date her I've become more fashion savvy—she's started to dress me I swear."

Natalie laughed, "Well you look good."

"She'd be thrilled to hear it, you'd love her. Mer is very much like you…"

"I'd love to meet her sometime…"

"Yeah, well enough about me…" Rizzo cleared his throat, "What about you? I swear I've never seen you look so sophisticated…are those actual diamond earrings that you're wearing?"

"Yeah…" Natalie chuckled, she forgot that the Natalie Rizzo got to know during the Olympics was very much a different person. After the Olympics she had traveled to her parents in Hong Kong for a few weeks and spent the rest of the time before her classes started in Europe—traveling around her favorite countries and using her time alone to become reacquainted with herself. But that was more of an inward change.

She sipped her drink, "I've recently entered a new phase of my life…and this phase sometimes requires me to y'know…" Natalie gestured at her ensemble, "Wear diamond earrings and black designer wrap-dresses."

Rizzo chuckled, "Almost like an NHL wife it sounds like…"

Natalie half-smiled at his comment and muttered into her glass as she took another sip of her drink , "Almost…"

Right then, she felt a hand land on her shoulder. Natalie looked up and smiled, "Hey—you made it!"

Robbie smiled, "Sure did, sorry that I was late." He looked to Rizzo, "Great to see you Rizzo!" They gave each other a manly hug before Rizzo seated himself back on his stool and Robbie sat on Natalie's other side. "What're you drinking?"

Natalie offered her glass, "Amaretto sour…" It was then that Rizzo noticed that earrings weren't the only piece of diamond jewelry that Natalie was wearing.

Robbie shook his head and made a face, "Too girly for me thanks."

Rizzo cleared his throat, "Are you engaged?" He wasn't sure if he was hallucinating the sparkling ring on Natalie's left ring finger.

Natalie beamed at Robbie before looking back at Rizzo, "Have been for two weeks."