A/N: Sorry this one's so short, but that's where I needed to wrap this one up, with a little bit of a cliff hanger. So I've desided 1.) the second romance is an O.C. and 2.) no triangle, but it really wouldn't have been much of a triangle anyway with Nikki/Rizzo with something like Mac/Nikki interest, but that was a friend's idea, after I said I was going to write a chapter to Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire.
I only changed this a little bit, because I heard this song, Heaven is a Place on Earth and it just sort of fit with this so I added just a little bit. Still a cliff hanger, so, on with the show
It was the day before the Christmas party Doc was hosting, and Mac, O.C. and a few of the other guys had temporarily disabled the girls' bathroom. So Nikki was in one of the stalls in the boys' bathroom changing, when Mac came in.
"Hey Nikki," he declared. "You dropped this purple silky thing...that kinda looks really hot."
"Thanks so much," she started. "Now could you please just shove that in my bag."
"Can I see you in them?" he asked.
"Under no circumstances," Nikki protested.
"We'll then maybe I'm just going to hold onto them until you change your mind," he teased.
"What on earth are you going to do with a thong, Mac?" she inquired. "Try it on?"
"I think I will," he started. "Though, I don't think I really like the idea of flossing my butt."
"Oh, gross," Nikki started. "You can keep them."
Dave Silk pulled open the small white box, and pulled out a purple thong.
"You're girl left these at my place," Mac started. "With some milk and cookies." There were laughs and cheers from all around the long table. "No actually I borrowed them off of Nikki the other day."
"Hey!" Herb started up.
"Oh my God," Nikki started and began to blush. She leaned over into Rizzo's shoulder.
"Those are nice," Rizzo started with a sarcastic grin.
"I didn't know he was going to wave them around the room," she admitted.
"What else do you think happens when Mac wears your underwear?" he inquired.
"Hey, boys, we've got three presents left," Jimmy, complete in the Santa Claus outfit, said with a smile, he selected a gift bag and handed it over to Nikki, in her position at the table between Rizzo and O.C. "There's one for Nikki."
Nicolette wondered hesitantly about what was in the package, everyone had received a gag gift so far. Buzz had a big red clown nose, Coxie had a whoopee cushion, Jack had a giant cigar, Rizzo was sporting little alien antenna, and Doc had a giant spinning bowtie.
She pulled away the tissue paper and found a little tiara, which Jack promptly grabbed and stuck on her head. She continued to pull out a wand with silver beads forming a star at the end, with pink ribbons hanging down. She pressed it to her chin thoughtfully.
Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth?
Ooh heaven is a place on earth
They say in heaven love comes first
We'll make heaven a place on earth
Heaven is a place on earth
"Am I a good with or a bad witch?" she asked with a smile.
"Bad witch!" They all shouted at her. She took her wand and began smacking Rizzo over the head with it.
"Prince! Prince! Prince!" She demanded hitting him repeatedly, as Rizzo frowned playfully. "It doesn't work," she confirmed jokingly, as they all laughed.
"Coach Patrick," Jimmy continued, "From the boys."
"I thought you forgot," Craig started, opening the makeshift card. "To Craig...that's beautiful boys." He opened the box. "You're gonna like this," he started looking at Herb, and pulled out a colorful plastic whistle. He blew on it.
"Perfect!" Coxie started. "Again!" a bunch of the boys yelled. Craig blew the whistle. "Again!" Another whistle. "Again."
"Ouch! My hand!" Jack teased. Nikki slapped him lightly.
"Alright," Herb cut them off, grabbing the whistle. "It's going back in the box."
"Coach Brooks," Jimmy continued, handing over the final present. Herb pulled away the wrapping paper, and revealing a bullwhip.
"Ah, the gift that keeps on giving," he began.
"No!" The boys started up.
"Speech!" A few chorused, then more. "Speech!"
"This may come as a shock to some of you," he started. "But I'm not very good at giving sentimental speeches."
"No way," a few boys teased.
"And I don't think I should start now," he continued. "Thanks for having me over Velta."
"Good night Herb," she started.
"You boys have a great holiday," he added. "I'll see you at home, Nikki."
"I'll be in before one," she promised.
"Merry Christmas, Coach," the boys called as he left, then went into, "Let's play some football!" Nikki bundled up with the boys and ran outside to watch the game.
When the night falls down
I wait for you
And you come around
And the world's alive
With the sound of kids
On the street outside
There was a big fire burning in a metal trash can and she stood there watching as Buzz slid down a hill. Mike was standing there with an arm around her for a while, before she told him to go join the game.
When you walk into the room
You pull me close and we start to move
And we're spinning with the stars above
And you lift me up in a wave of love...
Rizzo plowed over Silky and did a crazy looking summersault. He ran over and pulled her out onto their field.
"Come on, one play," he urged her. "You just take the ball and run, okay." She nodded as they set up. Mac tossed her the ball, and she ran about half way down to the other line before O.C. grabbed her around the waist. She threw the ball over to Cox who ran the rest of the way.
Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth?
Ooh heaven is a place on earth
They say in heaven love comes first
We'll make heaven a place on earth
Ooh heaven is a place on earth
"Nice pass," Mike commented with a shrug. "Even if you're not really supposed to do that."
"Says who?" she teased.
"I love you," he started.
"I know," she answered.
When I feel alone
I reach for you
And you bring me home
When I'm lost at sea
I hear your voice
And it carries me
Mac scored a touch down and O.C. picked him up and swung him around.
For a while she was sure there was nothing else in the world filled with so much happiness and innocence, as twenty-one boys playing football in the snow on Christmas Eve.
In this world we're just beginning
To understand the miracle of living
Baby I was afraid before
But I'm not afraid anymore
Then she began thinking about what would happen after. After they went home tonight. After the final cut was made. After the Olympics. And she realized she may never get another chance.
Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth?
Ooh heaven is a place on earth
They say in heaven love comes first
We'll make heaven a place on earth
Ooh heaven is a place on earth
"How're we doing," Rizzo asked her compassionately. Coming over to where she stood.
"I'm cold," she started uneasily. He noticed the sweat coming off her brow and the way her hands shook.
"You're shivering, we should get you inside," he suggested. She nodded.
"Yea, I think I'm going to be sick," she answered starting inside with him. She stopped suddenly, half way to the house and put a hand on her chest. "Oh God, what am I going to do?" she started nervously.
"What's wrong," he asked as she started breathing really heavy.
"I think I'm dying," she started in pain, leaning up against him. "I'm going to die."
"No, what are you talking about," he started in worried confusion.
"Oh God," she started again. He was sure he saw her falling before it actually happened and caught her before she hit the ground. By then the football game was at a standstill.
"Someone run get Doc," Rizzo wasn't even sure where the order had come from, but as he set Nicolette down on the couch, an ambulance pulled into the drive way.