A/N: Miraclenot mine, but I love my reviewers.

Emador: I still love you. I'm really glad you like this story. See the email I sent you. You're the best.

Misha: Protective guys are the bomb. I agree with you; I probably will leave Julie out of it and just let "The Mother from Hell" cause the trouble.

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: That's vote number two in favor of Mrs. McClanahan causing all the trouble. Well, since that's her area of expertise, I'll let her at it.

Bookgoddess: Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciated it.

Vaughnloveralwaysandforev: That's vote number three for option two.

Klinoa: Well, you're the first vote for option number one. We'll see what happens there. Yeah, Todd will be back; I might bring him back while the guys are in Norway, but that might be taking things too far because who would help Ellie? I'll think about it; ask my sister when she's asleep. (That's how I make important decisions; I ask my sister while she's sleeping and I do whatever she tells me to do. But that didn't work when I asked her where she thought I should go to college and she said, "Green cheese." I don't think they have a college on the moon, though. Oh well!)

StarrShyne: If you think that'll work…You're a little crazy, but at least you don't ask your sleeping younger sister where you should go to college. Well, you play southern rock for your kids and I'll keep asking my sister strange questions when she's sleeping.

Meadow567: I'm glad you liked it.

Nascarchick: I thought that would be humorous and ironic. And I thought the idea of OC restraining Mac, the guy he once attacked, would be really fun and ironic.

Darkdestiny2000: It's a possibility. I'll see what comes to me. You wish you had older brothers? How many do you want? I've got three and I've been trying to get rid of them for almost seventeen years. I've got a twenty-six-year-old brother who's married and has two daughters and I have twin eighteen-year-old brothers. Which one do you want? (Actually, I love them and I don't know what I'd do without them.)

Now I need some help from you guys. I've decided that Rizzo, Robbie, and Buzzy need girlfriends, so I want you guys to help me name them and decide what they look like. If you have any ideas put them in your review or email me.

Ellie's POV

The next day, I left practice as soon as the boys left the ice. I picked Jennie up on my way home form the rink and then went home. Jennie, Heidi and I immediately went to my room to work on my wardrobe. Well, Jennie and I were; Heidi was lying on my bed staring at the ceiling fan. After throwing all of my clothes around my apartment, Jennie decided I should wear my blue jeans and a pink blouse. "Oh, and sneakers," Jennie yelled as she ran out of the room. "I'll go find your skates."

"What should I do with my hair?" I yelled at her as I buttoned up my blouse.

"Put it in a ponytail! Oh, I found your skates!" That ended the strange sounds in the front closet.

"Good, now clean up the apartment."

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

OC's POV

Jennie opened the door. "Hi!" she beamed. "Just a minute, let me tell Ellie you're here." She turned around and bellowed. "Ellie, Jack's here!"

"I'll be there in a minute!" Ellie yelled back. "And clean up the apartment!"

I followed Jennie into the living room; it was a mess. Probably every single piece of clothing Ellie owned was strewn somewhere around the room. "We had trouble finding an outfit for Ellie," her younger sister explained.

Ellie walked into the room just then. She was gorgeous. Okay, she's always gorgeous, but it was extra special that night. She was wearing her hair in a ponytail, like she did every other day, but this time Heidi's frantic grabbing with eager, slobbery fingers didn't mark her appearance. Every other day, Heidi had pulled Ellie's hair out or spat up on her clothes. But for one night, Ellie was neat and clean.

"You ready to go?" I asked her.

"Yep, Jennie, clean the place up, take good care of Heidi, and I'll be home by midnight," Ellie ordered.

"I'll be in bed," Jennie replied as we left the apartment.

"She's spending the night?" I asked Ellie as we walked down the stairs.

"Yeah, her curfew's eleven and Mom would shoot me if she wasn't home by then, so she'll just spend the night. Plus, my dad is coming over tomorrow to help me with the paperwork for the lawsuit and he'll just take Jennie home when he leaves."

Mac had loaned me his car for the night on the condition I paid for the (very expensive) gas. As we got in the car, I asked her how the lawsuit was going.

"It's so stressful; no one knows where Julie is, so I'm basically suing her parents. That's really hard on me because I love them and I don't want to hurt them. I practically grew up at their house."

"Isn't Julie proving herself unfit for motherhood by not being around?"

Ellie shrugged. "I guess, but her parents are next in line for custody, so I have to sue them for custody. I have to prove that I can provide a better, more stable home for her than her grandparents can."

"Will the courts look down on you for holding a job that will only last until the end of February?"

"Probably, but I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to prove to them that I can be a good mother and provide a stable home."

I could see the determination and fire in her eyes and I smiled. "That's my girl."

She grinned and then looked out the window. "Where are we going?"

I smiled mischievously. "You'll see."

She pouted. "Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No." I was staying firm.

She flashed a set of puppy eyes at me. "Come on, Jack, I'll be good if you tell."

"It's a surprise, Miss Elizabeth."

"I don't like surprises," she replied. "They require patience, something I don't have."

"Well, little Miss Impatient, when you're with me, you're just going to have to learn to be patient."

"You're evil, Mr. O'Callahan."

I just smiled at her.

A few minutes later, I pulled into a restaurant parking lot and looked at her. "Mac said you like this place; I hope he's right."

It was a small bar and grill called Arielle's. Ellie smiled at me. She had a beautiful smile and I loved it when it was intended for me. "I love this place. It's my favorite restaurant."

"That's what your brother told me."

"You asked Robbie what my favorite restaurant is?"

I shook my head. "No, he told me when Rizzo told him I didn't know where to take you. Mac told me I should have asked him a lot sooner, but I didn't. He just told me about this place this morning before practice."

She nodded. "You know, you're kind of pathetic when you try to be macho."

I frowned at her. "You're annoying when you act like a little sister; I already have one of those and I don't need any more."

"Shut up and let's go eat," she replied. "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."

We went into the restaurant and were seated a quiet booth in a corner. "So, tell me your life story," Ellie said as we perused the menu.

I smiled. "There's not much to tell. I was born in Boston twenty-two years ago, I've lived in Charlestown most of my life except my four years at Boston U, I have two younger siblings-James and Annie, and I hate your brother for stealing my ring in 76." I had meant the last bit as a joke, but she took me seriously.

"Do you really hate Robbie, or are you just refusing to let go of a stupid grudge?"

I looked at her. "I don't hate him anymore," I began, thinking aloud. "Beating him up really helped me get over that. And now, I'm starting to learn that he's a great guy off ice. He's my teammate and my friend. He's not just the guy who cheap shot me three years ago."

She nodded. "I'm glad you're growing up. I can't stand immature guys."

"Neither can I," I teased her. "I'll warn you if you start dating any immature guys."

She stuck her tongue out at me. "So, if we start dating and you start being immature, you'll warn me about yourself?"

I laughed. "Sure, but only if you promise to warn me if you start being immature."

Ellie shrugged and smiled her beautiful smile. "I guess I could do that for you."

"Good girl."

"Woof!" came her reply and I laughed. Ellie was a nut; you just couldn't help loving her. Okay, love was the wrong word, but she was just an amazing person. When I first met her, I wondered how a girl like her could be related in any way to Rob McClanahan.

Ellie's POV

Jack was an amazing guy. He was laughing at my jokes, which aren't really that funny. His smile was gorgeous; I liked Jack, but I loved his smile. It was mischievous and cute while also being subtle and sweet. He was so silly and cute. We spent the entire night together laughing and telling stories. After dinner, we went over to the rink and went skating. "I want to see if you're really as good a skater as everyone says you are," he told me.

"Who's been talking about my skating?" I asked him as I laced up my skates.

"Herb, your brother, all the guys from Minnesota, and everyone else I've met who knows you except your mother and Kathie."

"My sisters and my dad talk about my skating?" I was shocked; I didn't know they noticed.

"Your dad thinks you're an amazing skater; he's amazed at just how good you are when you're on the ice. When I was at your house, he spent most of dinner telling us Boston Boys about how wonderful you are. You know how Jimmy was sitting next to him?"

I nodded; I remembered.

"Well, your dad spent like ten minutes telling Jimmy all about how good you are and telling him all these details about shows you were in when you were a kid. Ellie, your dad thinks the sun rises and sets on you. I've never heard any father talk about his daughter as much as yours did."

I blushed as I started skating around the ice. "You have to be joking; Robbie and Natalie are Dad's favorites. They're both so athletic and like him. I'm the brain who happens to also be a ballerina, a skater, and a pianist."

"You think that doesn't amaze him?" Jack asked, skating in front of me. "Your mother isn't that bright; your dad's smart, but he'll readily admit that you're smarter. Elizabeth, you have no idea how proud he was when he told us that you were accepted to Wellesley, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, Brown, and a whole bunch of other smart people schools like that. I was thrilled to get into Boston University and you got into Smith and Wellesley; Ellie, you're a genius."

I looked down at my feet and blushed. "I never knew my dad even noticed that stuff."

Jack hugged me. "Of course he does. What father wouldn't be impressed to have a daughter who was the smartest girl in her class?"

"At an all girls school," I whispered.

"So, you were the smartest person," he replied. "I was just an average student. I'm not that bright. Until I met you, I'd never heard of Watson and Crick."

"That's true of most people," I told him. "We don't understand DNA fully, so most of their research isn't taught that much in schools yet."

"But you know who they are; you understand what they're talking about. Deoxyribonucleic acid, the name doesn't even make any sense to me."

"Deoxy means without oxygen," I told him. "Oh, who cares? You're a hockey player; you don't need to know this stuff."

He laughed and hugged me. "See, that's what makes you so wonderful; you're a million times smarter than me, but you never make me feel stupid."

"Why would I want to?" I asked him as I skated away from him. "You know stuff I don't know."

"Like what?" He started skating after me. "What do I know that you don't know?"

"Well, Rizzo said you graduated with a bachelor's in finance, so you know all kinds of math stuff. I'm not that great with math; I'm much better with science or history." I kept skating away from him.

"So we each have our strengths," he called after me. "Hey, why are you trying to get away from me?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Mommy always told me to play hard to get." Then I took off again.

He caught up to me and picked me up. "Yeah, well, someone has to get you someday. You're just too cute to just let you slip away."

I smiled up into his beautiful blue eyes. I loved those eyes so much. I wasn't in love with Jack, but I was in love with his eyes. Oh, I could spend the rest of my life staring into those deep blue pools.

Suddenly, he poked me. "Hey, come back to me. Where are you?"

I smiled at him. "Hey."

He smiled that gorgeous smile of his back. "Hey, where were you?"

I blushed and mumbled, "Staring into your eyes."

He set me down and I stared down at my feet, again. He stuck his finger under my chin and lifted my face up so he could look in my eyes. Of course, that required that I stare into his eyes. He smiled down at me; he was so much taller than I was. "What did you say? I can't understand you when you're mumbling."

"I said I was staring into your eyes," I whispered, suddenly becoming as shy as a twelve-year-old who has been left all alone with her crush for the first time.

Jack O'Callahan beamed down at me. "You were staring into my eyes?"

I nodded. "Not to increase your ego, but you have gorgeous eyes. They're big and blue." I blushed again; I seemed to be doing a lot of that tonight. "I'm not sure why, but I really love your eyes. They're just amazing for some reason."

He smiled at me again. "You know, your eyes aren't that bad looking either."

I laughed. "They're just plain, ordinary brown."

He shook his head. "No, they aren't. They're the color of coffee with just a drop of milk. They're almost black, but not quite yet. It's a very subtle and very beautiful color. Ellie, there is nothing plain and ordinary about you."

"Now you're just saying things to get in my pants." Immediately, I wanted to take those words back.

"Ellie," he said in a warning tone. "I'm not that kind of guy. Granted, I come on strong, but I am not that kind of guy. I don't have sex with just any girl; I'm not the kind of guy who sleeps with a girl on the first date. I know you've dated a lot of weird scum over the years, but I'm not that kind of guy. I don't want to do every girl I meet. I don't want to hurt you, Ellie; I want to take things slowly."

I just stared at him in shock. "You want to go slowly? You're not going to force me into anything right away?" Dating Todd had been a constant fight to keep things out of the bedroom, and after I found out he'd been cheating on me, I was thrilled that I'd never slept with him.

Jack shook his head. "Ellie, I like you; I'm not going to do anything that might hurt you. What's more, I respect you. I'm not going to mess with a good thing."

I smiled and he hugged me. "And you're scared of Robbie."

He nodded. "Yeah, the fierce older brother also factors into things, but I do like you and I do respect you." He shook his head and laughed. "Man, Ellie, I'm being more emotional and sentimental tonight than I think I've ever been before in my life. You've got some kind of effect on me."

I laughed. "I won't tell anyone."

"Good girl," he said, hugging me again. "Now let's skate for a little while before I have to get you home so you don't turn into a pumpkin."

I laughed and skated away from him.

Jack's POV

Man, what was it about that girl? She brought out my emotions and that was weird. I was used to being all manly and she made me talk about my feelings. But she was amazing. I really liked her. I wasn't about to tell Robbie this, but Ellie McClanahan was the kind of girl a guy could think about spending the rest of his life with. She was pretty, she was smart, she was sweet and kind, she was funny, and she was fun to be with. I could understand why the Minnesota boys called her a princess; she was one, but she didn't act all spoiled. She was the kind and benevolent princess instead of the harsh commanding princess.

I watched her out of the corner of my eye as I drove her back to her apartment. "I had a really good time tonight, Jack," she whispered, leaning her head on hand.

"So did I," I replied. "I had fun skating with you."

"Yeah, racing you up and down the ice was fun."

"Only because you won more because you used to do Herbies with Robbie to help him train."

She shrugged. "Well, yeah, but after a couple more months, you'll be able to beat me in the twinkling of an eye, and then you'll be having more fun than me."

"We'll just see about that."

She smiled and leaned against her arm. "I have to go to court for the first time on Monday. I just hope my dad can prepare me well enough."

I pulled the car into the parking lot. "You'll be fine. Your dad will help you and you said the judge knows Julie, so you have no reason to worry."

As I walked her to her door, she looked up at me. "Pray for Heidi and me?"

I nodded. "Of course."

At her door, I just hugged her. Normally, I would have kissed her, but if Mac found out that I was kissing his sister, it'd be my head on a silver platter while I was sleeping. I would just behave myself. Oh, and we planned another date for the next Friday. Maybe Minnesota wasn't such a bad place after all if there were people like Ellie around.

A/N: Please review! And let me know if you have any ideas on who Robbie, Rizzo, and Buzzy can date. If you want to create girlfriends for other guys too, that's welcome. Like I think Jim Craig, Bah Harrison, and Ken Morrow need girlfriends.