Milwaukee, Wisconsin
"WOOO!!" Timmy had scored and everyone was happy. Herb changed the line and Rizzo came off, she watched as Herb went over to talk to Timmy but he looked at Rizzo first. He started whispering to Timmy but both Grace and Rizzo could hear him.
"You keep driving the net. That's all I care about, okay? That puck goes across the blue line, you drive to the net."
"Okay." Timmy answered back, Grace walked over to Rizzo and put her hands on his shoulder. He looked up at her and gave her a small smile.
"You're doing good, keep it up." He smiled again and turned back to watch the game. Grace still stood there and looked over at Timmy but soon turned back to the game. When the game ended everyone changed up and headed to the bus. Grace helped clean up a bit, so when she got back to the bus she saw Herb and her father talking to O.C., Rizzo, Mark, and Robbie.
"This is crazy, Herb. Bringing him in this late" O.C. was the one who started talking.
"Hey, we got parents buying tickets, getting rooms. What are we supposed to tell them?" Robbie told Herb.
"And with one of us going home as it is?" O.C. again.
"I guess I don't have to ask where you stand on this, huh, Rizzo?" Herb looked at Rizzo.
"This wasn't Rizzo's idea." Robbie answered.
"You want me to say I'm scared of gettin cut, I'm scared of gettin cut. Everybody is." Rizzo answered.
"We just want it to be fair, Herb." O.C. said.
"Don't even try telling me that. He was right there in Colorado." Herb told them.
"That was 6 months ago." Rizzo said.
"You don't think he's been playing for the last 6 months." Herb asked them.
"Not with us he hasn't" Rizzo said.
"So?" Herb answered like it was nothing big.
"So there's a difference" Rizzo gave him a look.
"Like hell there is. All I know is that kid can flat out play." Herb told them.
"What and we can't?" O.C. asked him in disbelief.
"He moves the puck, he's got great vision on the ice." Herb said this again like this not a big deal.
"That's not the point." Robbie answered.
"You know what else he's got. He's got the attitude I want on and off the ice, so somebody here better tell me why I shouldn't be giving him a hell of a look." Herb started to look mad.
"Because we're a family." Mark answered.
"What?" Herb answered a little confused.
"We're a family." Mark said again.
"A family." Herb looked over at Craig.
"Yeah." The four boys said.
"And this is the family you want to go to Lake Placid with?" Herb asked them and they all basically answered the same.
"Definitely."
"Yeah without a doubt."
"Absolutely."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Timmy Harrer can help us, boys. And I'm gonna send him home. We got one more to get down to 20. You understand." Herb then walked away with Craig.
"Yep." Grace watched her father and Herb walk away. She went over to the four boys.
"So you finally talked to him, I was wondering how long it would take."
"Yeah c'mon let's get on the bus." Rizzo grabbed her hand and they went and sat in the back.
Grace loved christmas, she always had she always would. They were at (attn: I don't know who's house that was so I'm saying Doc's) Doc's house. Grace was sitting by Rizzo watching Silk open a present, it was a pair of girls purple underwear.
"Well your girl left this at my place. With some milk and cookies. Giver her a hug for me." Robbie slapped Silk on the shoulder and walked away. Everyone was laughing and Silk was even a little bit. Jimmy was wearing a santa costume and walked over to the two coaches.
"We still got two more presents to open up. Pardon me Coach."
"Yeah." Craig asked.
"Coach Patrick, from the boys."
"Oh I thought you forgot. 'To Craig.' That's beautiful boys." Everyone started laughing. "You're gonna like this one."
"What?" Herb asked. Graig pulled out a small toy whistle. "That's very good." Craig started blowing it.
"Again." All the boys and Grace yelled out, so he blew it.
"Again." Whistle blows.
"Again." Craig blew the whistle again and Herb grabbed it off him.
"Alright that's enough of that. It's going back in the box." Everyone laughed again.
"Now before I give Herb his, we'd all like to apologize to Grace because we didn't get her a present. But we all want to say that you're an excellent and I'm sure Rizzo has a great present for you." Jimmy winked at her and everyone laughed except Craig who looked a little mad. "And Herb. Merry Christmas from the boys."
"Drumroll please." Everyone started hitting the table. Herb opened the present to find a bullwhip.
"Ah yes, the gift that keeps on giving." All the boys said 'NO' and wanted Herb to say a speech. He didn't and ended up leaving.
"Hey thanks for having me over, Velta." Herb said goodnight to everyone and left. The boys all decided to play football and Grace helped Velta clean everything up and when she was finished she went outside to watch the boys. When Rizzo saw her he ran over to her and grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.
"PUT ME DOWN, RIZZO!!!!"
"Look what I caught boys." He finally put her down and she slapped him on the shoulder. "Wanna play some football."
"No I don't, I was content with sitting over by the warm fire."
"I can keep you warm." Rizzo grabbed Grace and held her close to him. "How's that?"
"Perfect." She let out a small laugh. "But don't you wanna play football?"
"Who would want to play football when they can keep you warm." He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Grace was in love with him, he was just a great all around guy. They had been together for 6 months and she couldn't be happier. "I love you so much Grace Patrick."
"I love ya too Mike Eruzione." Grace laughed and snuggled closer to Rizzo, she heard all the other guys saying 'Awwww.' Rizzo didn't seem to really care though. "Well my dad's leaving so I better get going. I'll see ya at practice."
"Wait I didn't give you your present." Grace watched as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Here ya go."
"Aww thanks your present is at my house, so we can get it another time." Grace unwraped her present to find a ring box, she opened it up to find a beautiful silver ring with a small diamond in it.
"It's a promise ring. Do you like it"
"Like it Rizzo, I love it. Thank you so much." Grace gave him a kiss and a hug. "I have a better idea of what to do tonight."
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