September, 1979 Minneapolis, MN

Rizzo and I had an informal date to watch Dallas. The new season I had been telling Rizzo about was starting tonight and we were starting our weekly ritual of watching the show together. I knocked on the door to his room.

"It's open Chev, come on in." Rizzo called out.

I opened the door and see Rizzo eating popcorn from a large bowl, drinking a beer and sitting on the floor in front of the couch watching TV.

"You having a party by yourself?" I asked as I shut the door behind me and walked over to where he was sitting. I sat down on the floor beside him and gave him a quick kiss.

"Nah, I just wanted a few snacks for the big night. I have been hearing all about SueEllen and this baby for so long." Rizzo said and rolled his eyes. "And I am not allowed to kiss you when Patrick Duffy is on the screen, so that leaves out making out. So I might as well eat and have a beer."

"Well if that is the way you feel about it…" I said pretending to be offended.

"Let me kiss you now and we'll call it even." Rizzo said.

I smiled at him. It was little comments and moments like this that made my heart swell. I leaned over and offered my lips to Rizzo. Rizzo pressed his lips to mine and I felt my heart melt. I kissed him back and he put his arms around me. I wanted nothing more than to stay in this embrace, but wanted to watch the show and wanted to keep a barrier.

(Although that barrier was getting farther and farther away every time Rizzo kissed me.) I pulled back and smiled at Rizzo.

He kept his arm around me and we settled down to watch the show. I took a drink of Rizzo's beer and ate some popcorn as the opening credits came up.

"Where is OC?" I asked.

"In Silky and Coxie's room. They are watching a ball game. Pete Rose is playing." Rizzo said.

The show started and to my surprise Rizzo paid attention. If I didn't know better I would say that he was interested. He even asked me some questions.

"Wait, SueEllen has this new baby and she is not excited about it? I mean, she isn't even visiting little John in the hospital." Rizzo said.

I suppressed a smile at Rizzo paying attention, "Maybe she is having post-partum depression or something."

"Who do you think the baby belongs to Cliff or JR?" Rizzo asked.

"Hard to say. Although I think that if JR really felt the baby belonged to Cliff he would have carried through with his threat to have SueEllen kidnapped and an abortion performed on her." I told him. "You didn't chase OC out of here did you? I don't mind if he watches TV with us."

"Oh no, him and Silky wanted to watch the game. I told him he could stay but he winked and said we needed time alone." Rizzo said.

When the commercial break was over I made Rizzo be quiet so that we could watch the show. The show ended with a cliffhanger of the baby being kidnapped from the hospital.

"Do you think Cliff took baby John?" Rizzo asked me.

"I don't know. But I do know that whether you want to admit it or not, you like this show." I said and jabbed him in the ribs.

"Oh I just want to stay up to date so I know what you're talking about." Rizzo said.

"No, you really like this show." I said and tickled his ribs. "You like Bobby, and Pam and Lucy and Miss Ellie," I said and kept tickling him.

"Oh its war now." Rizzo said and started tickling my ribs.

"I am ticklish, stop, stop." I shrieked and rolled to my side. I heard Rizzo chuckle as he grabbed my feet and started tickling them. "Rizzo, stop!" I was giggling and could barely breathe.

I managed to get to my feet and started backing across the room. "It's not my fault that you are in denial about how much you luuuvvee Dallas" I told him.

Rizzo jumped to his feet and started stalking me across the room. "You are in so much trouble when I catch you." He smiled at me. I backed farther back in the room. Rizzo took off running after me and I shrieked and tried to run away from him. Rizzo grabbed me around the waist and started pulling me back across the room.

"No, don't tickle me. I promise, I'll behave." I giggled.

"Oh that would be a first." Rizzo cracked. I twisted fast and broke out of his grip. I turned and started backing away again, but Rizzo took a flying leap and tackled me onto his bed.

Rizzo pinned down both of my hands and then grinned down at me. "Are you sorry now?" Rizzo smirked.

"Never." I giggled.

"Never, huh?" Rizzo smirked.

Rizzo leaned down and kissed me, softly at first but then he deepened the kiss. He released my hands and I wrapped my arms around him. I ran one hand through his hair. It was so soft. My other hand I let trail down his spine. Rizzo ran his hand up my thigh and started tracing circles on my stomach. I hesitated to see what Rizzo's next move would be. Usually I smacked his hand away, but felt comfortable with letting him touch my tummy.

I gently rubbed my nails over the nape of Rizzo's neck. He moaned lightly and slid his fingers under the edge of my shirt. The feeling of Rizzo's fingertips trailing across the skin around my bellybutton was so electric that I didn't slap his hand away. I ran my hands down Rizzo's back and inched my fingers under the hem of his shirt. I gently rubbed the small of his back and then I lightly tickled his sides.

Rizzo chuckled and pulled back and smiled down at me. He then lightly tickled my tummy making me giggle. I rose up and recaptured his lips. My head was spinning from the intense feeling of being with Rizzo.

"Hey Rizzo I need…" the door to the room opened.

At the sound of someone walking in the room we broke apart as fast as we could. We looked up and saw Mac standing in the doorway his eyes the size of silver dollars. Mac shut the door and stepped farther into the room. Rizzo stayed seated on the bed beside me.

"Rizzo, what are you thinking?" Mac asked. "She is Coach Craig's daughter. He'll flip out. Not to mention Herb will kill you right after he cuts you from the team."

"That's why we're not telling any of the coaching staff till after the Olympics." I told him.

"You two think you can keep this a secret until February?" Mac asked. "Does anyone know about this?"

"Silky, Coxie, OC and Jimmy." Rizzo told him.

"Jimmy? My own room mate didn't tell me." Mac said shaking his head. "Rizzo have you thought about what you're getting yourself into?"

"Mac can I talk to you outside for a second?" Rizzo asked standing up.

"Sure," Mac said and followed Rizzo out into the hall. I sat on the bed and listened to their conversation.

"Rizzo how long has this been going on?" Mac asked him.

"Since July."

"July? Well I guess you two can keep a secret." Mac said. "You know this could really screw up your spot on the team. I mean I know Herb and he would not take very kindly to one of his players fooling around with the other coach's daughter."

"Trust me, there isn't much fooling around going on. Believe me; I am with Chevon because I care about her, not for sex." Rizzo said. I didn't know whether to smile or roll my eyes so I did both.

"Are you going to tell the rest of the team?" Mac asked.

"We were just letting the guys find out as things happened. We probably should tell the team. I don't want anymore surprises like tonight, I am sure Chev doesn't either." Rizzo said.

"Yeah, and I am sure the team could help you out. You know with cover stories and such." Mac said and smiled. I smiled and agreed with them both. I didn't want another surprise and I felt the team would be supportive of us. "But Rizzo, I am warning you, if you hurt her, you'll be begging Herb to send you back to Massachusetts because I know several guys that will be out to beat the daylights out of you."

"I have no intentions of hurting her." Rizzo said. "Now what did you need when you came here?" Rizzo asked.

"You know, I can't remember!" Mac said and laughed. "I'll let you get back to your girlfriend."

Rizzo walked back into the room and smiled at me. "We need to start locking this door!"