All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer; We just like to play with her characters.
No copyright infringement is intended.
Thank you darcysmom for her red pens skills and for being our wonderful beta and friend.
Taking a Shot
Chapter 12
Playoff hockey was nothing like the regular season. One wrong play and your team was out. You were on your way home to sit and watch as other teams fought it out, while you contemplated if you'd get a chance at the cup the next season.
We were lucky we were on home ice since we posted well in the standings. The fans were whipping around their orange and black towels showing their support for our team. My Bella was among the fans cheering me and my team on, probably biting her lip nervously. I knew she was more nervous about sitting next to my family than she was about how I would play tonight.
The day before my parents and brother, Cole, had flown in to help cheer me and my team on. I hadn't seen them since before I was traded to Philly, and I was happy they could make the trip. My mom was more eager to meet Bella than to see me, while Dad and Cole were happy they could see live playoff hockey.
I could imagine my mom talking Bella's ear off, asking her a million and one questions about our relationship and asking when she was going to have grandbabies. Dad was probably giving her a play by play of my hockey stats since I started in the league. Cole, on the other hand, was most likely recounting all my embarrassing moments in life. That was my family, and I loved them dearly.
I stood in the tunnel waiting to take the ice against our biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins. We had lost to them in our last regular season game, only three short days ago. They were a good hockey club, but we hoped we'd be better this time around.
I took the ice with other starters while the rest of the team stood behind the bench. The flag was lowered from the rafters and then the sweet sound of our national anthem was being sung. I stood with my hand over my heart trying to calm my nerves.
From the moment the first puck hit the ice, it was an intense game. Both teams fought for dominance in the game trying to beat the other. By the end of the first period, we were up by two goals and had out played the Penguins. While we sent a message with our resiliency, Pittsburgh sent one with their fists. Their penalties only helped our fighting spirits.
With the start of the second period, we were feeling good about our lead, but let our egos get the best of us. Two minutes into the period, Crosby stole the puck on a cross pass and whipped the puck past Bryzgalov for a goal, putting Pittsburgh closer to the win.
We couldn't give up the small lead we had or we'd be fighting to get the upper hand again. There were 0.9 seconds left in the period when Hartnell took a cross-ice feed from Briere to slip the puck past the goalie to put us up three to one.
My mind wandered as I made my way to the locker room for intermission. I wondered if Bella was enjoying the game and not being harassed by my family? Was she biting her lip on the edge of her seat as each passing minute was closer to the end of the game? Did she worry about me when I was checked into the boards nearly putting me flat on my ass?
I half listened as Coach reiterated that we needed to keep our heads in the game and play like the hockey team that we were. I was jittery wanting this game to be finally over so I could spend time with Bella. As much as I wanted to kick Pittsburgh's ass, what I really wanted was to be with Bella pulling her into my arms and spending time with my family - making her a part of that same family.
When my feet touched the ice at the start of the third period, I tuned out thoughts of Bella and got my head back in the game. On a power play Timonen blasted a shot from the point past the goalie to tack on another goal in our favor. We held our ground and didn't let anymore goals past but in turn didn't put any past their goalie either.
At the end of the game we had successfully started the series with a great win as we beat the Penguins four to one.
After I hit the locker room for a quick shower, I made my way down the tunnel towards Bella and my family. Bella had a huge smile on her face and I couldn't stop myself from returning her smile.
"Hey, baby."
"Hey, yourself." I grinned. "They didn't bug you too much, did they?" I asked, nodding to my family who were standing to the side anxiously awaiting my arrival.
"Nah … your mom's great … and your dad, he's so proud of you."
"And Cole?"
"He's a crack-up."
"Oh, God," I groaned, wondering what kind of shit he'd told Bella about me.
"Don't worry, baby, it was nothing too horrible. Now come on, they want to see you."
I greeted my mom with a hug and a kiss and my dad with a very manly hug.
"Hey, Mom … Dad. Did you guys enjoy the game?"
"Hi, sweetheart." Mom smiled. "It was a fantastic game, but you took a pretty hard hit, are you all right?"
"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine."
"Are you sure, Son? I have my bag in the car. I can check you out if you're feeling less than one hundred percent."
"Yeah, Dad, I'm sure."
I fist bumped Cole who was rolling his eyes at our parents incessant worrying.
"Hey, Bro."
"Hiya, Eddieboy … how are ya?"
"I'm good, Bro. I trust the three of you took care of my girl while I was out on the ice?"
I felt kind of bad that Bella couldn't have met my parents in a different setting when I was actually around, but it couldn't be helped. They had come in the night before and we were all supposed to have dinner together, but Bella, being the lifesaver she is – took someone's shift so she could stay home with her own sick child. Bella apologized profusely. I knew she didn't do it on purpose, but it seemed to be the fucked up way our life together was playing out.
"You bet your ass we did, Bro. We even gave her shit for not being around for dinner last night," Cole grinned.
That was one sure thing about my brother – he could be a real asshole sometimes. I just hoped that he saved it for when I was actually around.
"Cole! Can you act like you have some manners for longer than a five minute period?" My mother glared.
Properly chastised, Cole centered his attention elsewhere.
"Baby, we're gonna go out with the team to have dinner and celebrate. Do you want to come with us or do you want to head home?"
I wanted to give Bella the option in case she was too tired. I felt bad that I really hadn't had the chance to talk to her and see how her day was. My parents and I headed out before Bella got home that morning, and we stayed out all day in case Bella wanted to sleep.
"I'd love to go celebrate with you guys." Bella smiled, "I missed you today. You weren't there to keep me company while I was napping."
"I'm sorry, baby. You know I would have rather been home with you."
"No, Edward. It's okay. I get it. Your parents came all the way here to see you play, and they deserve to have you spend the day with them. I didn't really need a babysitter. I just missed you is all."
We made our way out of the arena and into the parking lot. My mom rode with Bella while my dad and Cole rode with me.
"Are we heading to Franklin's Place?" Bella asked, giving me one last kiss on the cheek before we parted.
"Is there anywhere else to go?" I grinned.
I hated to leave Bella in the parking lot, even if we were meeting again at the bar. I wasn't worried about leaving her alone with my mom either – I knew mom would fall in love with Bella, just like I did.
"Bella seems nice," Cole offered, after we climbed into the car. "She can sure take whatever you dish out at her."
"Oh God, Cole, tell me you didn't."
I began to panic, thinking that Cole said something to her that he shouldn't have.
"Don't worry, Son. Your mother wouldn't let him get away with saying anything inappropriate to Bella." Dad laughed. "Besides, Cole is right – Bella is a really nice girl. She seems very sweet, but a nurse? How do you guys balance your schedules?"
"Sometimes we don't. It can be very frustrating. She works long hours and I'm on the road all the time. It's hard, but I … I love her, dad. I don't see anyone else for me but her. That makes me figure out a way to make it work even if I have to put up with her shitty schedule."
"I'm only asking, Son, because I can see how disappointed you were last night when she couldn't have dinner with us. Bella seems to know that it upset you, and she was extremely apologetic when she met your mother and me earlier."
We were quiet in the car after that. I was surprised that Cole didn't have anything to add to the conversation like he usually did.
When we arrived at Franklin's Place, Bella's car was already parked outside, and I knew she and Mom were waiting inside for us. We walked in to find Bella and Mom sitting at a high top table, with Emmett hugging my mom.
"Edward! You didn't tell me that Bella was Emmett's little sister!" Mom gushed.
"Sorry, Mom, you didn't exactly give me a chance to," I apologized weakly.
I sidled up next to Bella and kissed her softly on her temple.
"I love you," I whispered.
"Love you too, Edward."
Bella's eyes were wide and pleading and I could see that she was worried I was still upset over the night before.
"Don't worry about it, baby. Next time, please tell them you can't work an extra shift."
Bella nodded.
"I have something I need to talk to you about, but it's not the time or the place."
"Should I be worried?" I asked, nervous.
"No, baby. It has nothing to do with us – it concerns work. We'll talk about it later."
Bella's facial expression was calm and that made me feel a lot better. If it had nothing to do with us and everything to do with work, I could live with that.
"Okay." I smiled. "Hey, I heard from William today. He said that everything looks good on the paperwork front and the house went into escrow this morning. Since we're buying the house directly from the contractor, things should move along rather quickly, and we're looking at maybe a thirty day escrow."
"Really? We could be in before the start of summer?"
"Yep, as long as everything goes smoothly."
"So, what's next Edward? Are you going to put your condo on the market?" Cole asked, taking a sudden interest in our conversation.
"Well, that's the general idea, Bro. There's no real reason to keep it."
"You mean other than the fact that it's paid off?"
Shit. Bella thought I was still paying on the mortgage. I never mentioned to her that I paid it off, and I was hoping that I wouldn't have to.
"What do you mean it's paid off?" Bella asked, raising her brow.
Cole smirked, apparently happy with himself.
"Edward … what does he mean it's paid off?"
I sighed, knowing that I would have had to tell her sooner or later. I was just hoping that it would be … later.
"Don't worry about it, baby. We can talk about it later."
"Edward, I don't want to talk about it later. I want to know NOW."
"Bella …"
"NOW, Edward!"
Bella wasn't playing around, she really wanted to know what Cole meant. Her jaw was tense and the ire was plain on her face.
"I don't have a mortgage on my apartment. I used my signing bonus and paid for it in full. If we sell it and get a decent price for it, we can pretty much pay off the house."
Bella's mouth gaped open.
"And when were you planning on sharing that little bit of information with me?"
I sighed, trying to calm the nerves.
"Baby, I wasn't deliberately keeping it from you. I just knew you'd react like this."
"And how is that, Edward?"
"Bella, you're overreacting."
I had never seen Bella this worked up before. She stood from her chair without looking my way and walked right out the front door of the bar. I sent my brother death glares before turning to my parents with pleading eyes.
My mom placed her hand on mine. "Go, sweetie. We'll be fine."
She didn't have to tell me twice.
I ran like the wind out the door and into the cold spring night. I was on edge at the thought of hurting Bella. I couldn't lose her over something as inconsequential as money. Didn't she know she held all the power in this relationship? I would be empty if she ever left me.
I slowed my pace as I reached the parking lot to see Bella leaning against her car with her head in her hands. Her breathing was jagged, her shoulders slumped, and I heard a sob leave her mouth.
I inched closer afraid of scaring her, placing a gentle hand on her should as I whispered her name.
"Bella …"
Her head jerked up and my heart broke at the sight of her swollen red eyes and tear streaked face. I closed the gap between us and pulled her into me tight.
"I'm so sorry, baby. I never meant to hurt you."
Another sob wracked her body as I rubbed my arms up and down her back trying to soothe her.
"Bella, I love you so much and just want to take care of you."
"You should have told me, Edward," Bella said through her tears.
"I know, but you are such an independent, hardheaded, stubborn woman and won't listen to reason."
"Edward …"
"Baby, I told you before I have money just sitting in an account. I never flaunt it in your face. I love your work ethic and your commitment to your job. I'm proud of the woman that you are, but one of these days you're going to run yourself into the ground. All I want to do is take care of you, love you. It hurts sometimes when you fight me tooth and nail not letting me spend a penny on you."
"It's not that I don't want you to spend it on me, Edward. I feel … I feel like I bring nothing to this relationship."
"Oh, baby … I'm sorry if I ever made you feel that way. You love me and that's enough. Everything else is insignificant. Don't you know, Bella? You're my everything, my forever. One day we'll be man and wife, living our happily ever after making babies and loving each other."
Bella giggled, and it was the sweetest sound in the world. "How many babies, Edward?"
"Four. Two boys and two girls. All hockey players of course."
"Of course. But really, four kids, Edward?"
"Yeah. I want to fill that house up with the pitter patter of little feet. I want a big family to share with you."
Bella wrapped her arms around me tighter and I kissed the top of her head.
"I love you, my beautiful Bella.
"I love you, too. I'm sorry I overreacted, baby."
"It's fine. As long as you never leave me we'll be okay."
"I don't think I could ever walk away from you. You're my forever too."
A/N:
We apologize for the long wait on this update. Real life has been kicking our asses and we're just trying to stay afloat. So we only have a few chapters left of ur little story left and hope you'll stay with us till the end.
There's only a little over a month before TFMU and we'll be there in Chicago come June 27th, so let us know, we'd love to meet you.
Now please hit the green button and let us know what you think of our sexy Hockeyward!
Until next time...
Karen & Jill