A/N: Miracle is not mine. The only things I own in this story are Heidi, Ellie, and Ellie's friends. Thank you to everyone who reviewed; I love you guys.

Darkdestiny2000: Emador created a girlfriend for Robbie who will be named Emily. Schyler and Gabby-I can see that happening. Erin-oh my gosh! Heidi is my older sister's name and Erin is my sister-in-law's name. It does help and I'll try working it in. Gabby or Erin will get Rizzo.

Vaughnloveralwaysandforev: Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. I'm planning this whole thing where Ellie's younger sister, Kathie, falls in love at Rizzo, but he'll be dating some other girl who will happen to be one of Ellie's friends.

StarrShyne: We've been over this before. You've got Jimmy AND Rizzo; I get OC. Yeah, you're lucky you're not my younger sister, but Charlie's just as crazy as I am, so we get along perfectly. (We have to; we share a room with our thirteen-month-old sister.) If all geniuses are eccentric, I must be very intelligent.

Klinoa: Sentimental Jack is a sweetheart. I'm not sure how much of the court battle I'll put in, but I'll try to satisfy everyone's hunger for information.

Meadow567: I was wondering about that, if Buzzy and Gayle were already married by then. I'm definitely working her in because without her, there would be no Billy and he was born like two months after the Olympics.

Miraclegirl: I'm glad you love the story. Nope, I don't go to Red Hook School. I go to a private Catholic school in Michigan.

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Yeah, so, umm, no. I was planning on using an original character. Sorry…

Emador: I know you love it and you're the best beta ever.

Anmerie: The kisses will come. Just wait; patience is a virtue. I've got some girlfriend ideas.

And on with the show…

Ellie's POV

When I got to the courthouse Monday morning, my dad was waiting for me with his friend and my attorney, Evan Carmichael. Evan's specialty is family law-custody cases etc. My dad greeted me with a hug and Evan shook my hand. I had to bring Heidi with me and I was a little worried about how she'd behave in public. Sure, she was a little angel when she was with the guys, but she adored Robbie, Rizzo, and Jack. Plus, Buzz would play with her whenever she seemed "lonely." He had said something about needing practice and I had made a mental note to ask his wife exactly what sort of practice he needed.

"Ellie," my dad said after greeting me. "We just got word that Julianne Watson was arrested in Colorado last week for drunk driving, possession of marijuana, and a few other drug-related charges. She pled guilty to the charges and will consequently face a large amount of jail time. Judge Harper will begin the proceedings this morning by declaring Julie unfit for motherhood."

"Is that good or bad for me?" I asked him, adjusting Heidi on my hip.

Evan shrugged. "It depends. Mr. Watson's lawyer is hinting that his client may declare no interest in custody, which means you would get custody. Then you would be put on a three month probation and if the court is satisfied with your parenting skills at the end of three months, adoption proceedings will begin."

I nodded. "So, I need to prove that I can be a wonderful mother?"

"More or less," Evan replied. "You need to be on your best behavior for the next three months. The court will also look for you to maintain a stable job, which is no problem for you, and to maintain a stable relationship."

"Does that mean don't date?" I asked.

"No," my dad replied. "You and Rob's friend, OC, have become close. If you do date him, you two need to maintain a constant relationship. Stay with him at least until you have formally adopted Heidi."

I nodded. It was so strange to hear people telling me to keep dating a guy, but I liked Jack and I wanted to stay with him, not just for the next three months, but for a long time. "All right, Jack and I will keep dating until Heidi's mine."

"That's my good girl," Dad replied.

After that first day, it seemed like the case would be over in a few days, at most, but it wasn't. It had been almost four weeks since the case began and relief was not in sight. The judge and the Watsons' attorney were determined to ascertain all the opinions and facts concerning the case. Ron's parents were dragged in as witnesses, simply to prove that their son had no interest in helping to raise his daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Watson each spent two days on the stand explaining why they didn't want custody of their grandchild. My parents were brought in to prove that I would be a good mother. Robbie was brought in and then the third Friday of the case, the Watsons' attorney, Mr. Mitchell, got really crazy.

He called Steve Janaszak, Mike Ramsey, Buzz and Gayle Schneider, and Patti Brooks as witnesses. His cruel purposes in calling them, as witnesses became painfully evident about five minutes into Rammer's testimony when he asked, "Mr. Ramsey, is it true that for the last five weeks Miss Elizabeth McClanahan has been dating your teammate Mr. John O'Callahan?"

Immediately, Evan jumped up and yelled, "Objection, your honor! The question is irrelevant."

The judge disagreed and ordered Mr. Mitchell to proceed. "Mr. Ramsey," the prosecutor continued. "Is it true that Miss McClanahan is dating Mr. O'Callahan?"

Rammer nodded. "Yes."

"Mr. Ramsey, how long have you known Miss McClanahan?"

"Four years."

"And in those four years, how many boyfriends has she had, including Mr. O'Callahan?"

"Including Jack, she's had four."

"Why did she break up with those men she dated prior to this current relationship?"

Rammer's face became angry, but his tone was still calm. "She broke up with Steve Janaszak and Todd Davis because they were cheating on her."

"And what about Peter Gilbert? Why did Miss McClanahan and Peter Gilbert break up?"

"He died in a car accident."

Mr. Mitchell was not expecting that answer and stood there, staring at Rammer for a while. In one futile, last ditch attempt, he asked, "Who was driving the car Mr. Gilbert was in when he died?"

"He was," Mike answered stoically. "Peter Gilbert was driving to Ellie's apartment when his car was hit by a drunk driver. He had been planning on proposing to Ellie that night."

"No further questions, your honor," came the crude attorney's faint whisper.

"Your witness, Mr. Carmichael," the judge said to Evan.

Evan stood up and looked at Rammer. "In the four years you have known Miss McClanahan, how often have you seen her with young children?"

"All the time," Rammer replied. "Ellie's been babysitting Herb and Patti's kids for ages. She baby-sat them about once or twice a month."

"And did you ever see her mistreat Danny or Kelly Brooks physically or verbally?"

"Never, Ellie loves those kids; she'd die before she hurt them."

"And is this attitude Miss McClanahan's attitude towards all children?"

"Yes."

"No further questions, your honor," Evan told the judge.

"Mr. Ramsey, you may step down," Judge Harper told Rammer.

Jannie was next. "Mr. Janaszak," Mr. Mitchell began. "How long have you known Miss Elizabeth McClanahan?"

"For the past four years," Jannie told him.

"And you dated her for a year during your freshman year of college?"

"Seven months," Jannie corrected him.

"Why did you two break up?" the attorney asked him.

"I dumped her because I wanted to take the next step in our relationship and she wasn't ready. So, I went off and found myself a girl who would take that step with just about any properly functioning male."

"How did Miss McClanahan react?"

"She was heart-broken, but in time, she recovered and moved on."

"How did Miss McClanahan respond to having her heart broken?"

"I'm not the person to ask about that. I wasn't allowed near her for months after that because Herb and Robbie were so mad at me for breaking her heart."

"Is Mr. Robert McClanahan prone to violent tendencies?"

"No, only when someone hurts his sisters." Jannie's answer was clear and honest.

"Is Miss McClanahan prone to violent tendencies?"

Jannie laughed. "Are you kidding? Ellie is the calmest, most cool-headed person I know. She never loses her temper."

"Never?"

"Never," Jannie said in a very final tone.

"No further questions," Mr. Mitchell said.

"Counsel, your witness," the judge told Evan.

Evan glared at Mr. Mitchell. "No questions for the witness."

Mr. Mitchell tried to interrogate Buzzy, Gayle, and Mrs. Brooks the way he'd gone after Jannie and Rammer, but the judge stopped him while he was going after Mrs. Brooks. "Mr. Mitchell, you have spent the past three weeks trying to convince this court that Miss McClanahan's character is not suited for parenthood. All you have managed to do is convince the court that Heidi Louise Watson has two sets of grandparents neither of which is interested in raising their granddaughter. What Mr. Carmichael has proven is that Miss McClanahan would be an excellent mother. I've listened to your badger witnesses and drive everyone in this courtroom crazy. I know this isn't normal courtroom procedure, but I'm making my decision in this case here and now. I hereby award custody of Heidi Louise Watson to Elizabeth Grace McClanahan. Miss McClanahan will be on parental probation for the next three months. She will be expected to provide a stable home for Heidi, maintain a stable job, and take good care of Heidi. Case closed and court dismissed." Then he banged his gavel and left the room.

Evan smiled at me. "Congratulations, Ellie! You did it."

"Thanks for your help," I told him with a sincere smile. Then I went over to where my father was waiting with Robbie, Jack, Buzzy, Gayle, Rammer, Jannie, and Mrs. Brooks. Gayle was holding Heidi, but she handed her to me when I reached her. Then I flew to my dad. "Daddy, we did it! I got custody of Heidi!"

"I know. I'm so proud of you," he replied, hugging me.

Robbie hugged me too. "Oh, I'm so glad for you, Ellie."

I smiled. "I couldn't have won without Rammer, Jannie, Buzzy, Gayle, and Patti. You guys were amazing, especially Rammer and Jannie. Thank you so much."

Rammer gave me a one-armed hug. "Anything for you."

I smiled at him as Jannie told me, "That's my way of saying sorry."

I hugged him. "And I forgive you, Steve."

Then, I handed Heidi back to Gayle and I was in Jack's arms. He was hugging me and I was hugging him. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. Then he kissed my forehead.

I clung to him with all my might until Robbie interrupted us. "Hey, Ellie, I have something to tell you."

I let go of Jack and planted my feet back on the floor, but Jack still had his arms around me. "What's up?" I asked my brother.

"Emily's back in town," Robbie said with the happiest look I'd seen on his face in the two months since Emily went to California on vacation. "And she has a job here in town."

"That's amazing." Emily is my brother's girlfriend of two years, Emily Sibley. They met our junior year of college when their dorms were right next to each other and they would both go running in the morning. They started running together and then they started dating.

I caught Gayle's eye and she smiled. I knew we were both thinking the same thing. There goes any chance of having a celebration dinner with Robbie; he'll be off with Emily the rest of the night. Jack was holding me close and Gayle spoke. "Ellie, if you and Jack want to go out together, Buzz and I would be glad to baby-sit Heidi tonight. You and Jack need a night together, just the two of you."

Jack's POV

"It would be good for you," Buzzy said. "You guys could talk about the future, make plans."

I shook my head. "I just started dating the girl, Buzz. Don't plan the wedding yet."

Gayle moaned. "Why can't we plan your wedding yet?"

"Because I don't know if I'm ready to get married," Ellie answered. "Jack's a great guy, but I'm not sure I'm ready to get married."

I wrapped my arm around her. "We'll see where this relationship goes."

Mr. McClanahan walked over to all of us. "OC, Ellie, Rob, I've decided to take the three of you and Emily out to dinner to celebrate. Ellie, don't worry; you can bring Heidi. Buzzy and Gayle, I'd invite you, but my wife and I would like this to be a small family dinner. The same goes for you, Jannie and Rammer. We'd love to have you, but Mrs. McClanahan and I would like this to be just the family."

"It's fine," Gayle replied as she handed Heidi back to Ellie.

Ellie kissed Heidi's forehead and smiled. "Dad, does Mom know that you've invited Jack and Emily?"

Her dad laughed. "Yes, she does. Amazingly, she seemed willing to let you bring Jack and to let Rob bring Emily."

"Well, Daddy, just make sure Mom behaves herself," Ellie warned her father. "I don't want her making a scene or pushing Emily away. Robbie wants to marry her."

"And control Kathie too," Mac added. "She's determined to push Emily away from me. It's like she doesn't want to see me happy or something."

I felt awful for both of them. I knew how much Mac loved Emily. I'd heard about her from him, the Minnesota boys, and Ellie. According to Mac, she was beautiful, smart, and sweet.

"I'll do my best, kids," Mr. McClanahan told his two oldest children. "I have to go home and pick up your mother and your sisters, but I want to meet you five at Talbert's at seven. Dress sharp."

"Yes, sir," his children replied.

Then he left and Ellie leaned against me. I wrapped my arms around her and stuck my nose in her hair. I wanted to stay in that position forever, but I had to leave for Norway in a week. That was going to be hard, leaving behind two people I loved while I went off and played hockey in Europe. Sure, I'd left behind my parents and girlfriends before, but I'd never left behind someone I loved so instinctively as Ellie.

"It's five o'clock," Mac said, interrupting us. "We out to get going if we need to go home and get changed. Ellie, OC and I will pick you up around six-thirty. Make sure you look like a princess."

I smiled as she nodded. "I'll see you two then." She hugged Mac and then me. But I also got a kiss on the cheek. Then she headed out to her car.

When Mac, Rammer, Jannie, and I got back to the dorms, all the boys were in Mark Pavelich and Bah Harrington's room playing poker. Rizzo looked up when we walked. "You look happy," he commented.

I grinned. "Ellie won. She has custody of Heidi and in three months, she can try to adopt the little princess."

Rizzo smiled. "That's awesome."

"Yeah, it is. Mr. McClanahan is taking his family, Mac's girlfriend, and me out to dinner to celebrate," I told him.

Rob was standing behind me. "OC, we should get ready if we're going to leave at six-fifteen."

"Where's Mr. Mac taking you guys?" Bah asked.

"Talbert's," I answered.

Bah whistled and Pav shook his head. "Fancy-schmancy," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Talbert's is the fanciest, most expensive restaurant in town," Bah told me. "Filet mignon there costs more than my parents' house."

"It might even cost more than the McClanahans' house," Rammer explained.

"That's a lot of money," Mark Johnson said. "OC, don't order the filet mignon."

"Don't order water," Rammer suggested. "It costs more than the engagement ring you'll need to buy some day."

"Would everyone stop suggesting that Ellie and I get married?" I yelled. "Rammer, Buzzy, and Gayle have all said something about me asking Ellie to marry me in the past hour."

"You two are good for each other," Rammer said. "I can see it and you two have only known each other for two months."

Johnson nodded. "Anyone can see that you two are meant for each other. Plus, you and Mac's sister getting married, it'd be a great way to reconcile everything about seventy-six."

I laughed. "We'll see what happens. Right now, I have to get ready to go out to dinner with my girlfriend and her family."

"Oh, meeting the family, OC, you're getting serious," Jimmy Craig teased me as I left the room.

I laughed, but Jimmy was right. I'd never met a girl's family before. Granted, I'd never dated one of my teammate's sisters before either, but this whole relationship was completely different than anything else I'd ever done.

Rob and I got to Ellie's apartment at six-thirty. "You can go get her," Rob told me. "I know you want to. I'll get the carseat out of Ellie's car while you're gone."

I ran up the stairs to Ellie's apartment and knocked on her door. She opened the door and I gasped; she was gorgeous. She was wearing a knee-length black skirt and a white blouse; Heidi was on her hip as usual. "You ready to go?" I asked her. "Rob said that we need to pick up Emily."

She nodded and grabbed her purse and Heidi's diaper bag. "All ready."

"Then let's go." As we started walking down the stairs, I remembered something. "Rob said he'd get the carseat and put it in the car while I got you."

"How are we going to fit five people in Rob's car?" she asked me.

"We aren't," I told her. "He borrowed Rammer's station wagon."

"The clunker-junker?" she asked with a smile. "Rob agreed to drive Michael Ramsey's clunker-junker?"

"Yep."

"What is he crazy? The last time he borrowed that car was the night he…" her voice trailed off. "Never mind. We don't need to talk about that. Let's just go the car."

Ten minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot at another apartment building. "OC, get in the backseat and stay there. Ellie, make sure he doesn't move. Emily gets the front seat from here on out."

Heidi got one window seat and I got the other, so Ellie was stuck between us. I had just shut the door when I heard Ellie squeal, "Emily!"

Emily Sibley was of average height, about five foot six or thereabouts. She had brown hair that fell just below her shoulders and she was wearing a sleeveless navy blue dress. "Ellie!" Emily squealed back.

Robbie got in the driver's seat. "No one ever squeals when they see me."

"Baby!" Emily squealed.

"Robbie!" Ellie squealed.

"OC, man, aren't you going to squeal?" Mac asked me.

"Sorry, Mac, my voice is a little low for that," I told him.

Emily turned around and looked at me. "So, you're the infamous OC who stole my best friend's heart," she said with a smile.

"Yep."

"That means you're also the OC who my Robbie cheap shot in seventy-six. That was just because he can see the future and he knew you would fall in love with his sister in seventy-nine."

I laughed as Mac started driving.

When we pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant, I began to understand just how fancy this place was. There was a valet and the parking lot was full of limos. Emily shuddered. "Robbie, is your mother going to be here?"

"Yep."

"I hate that woman. Why do you have to be her son?"

"Because that's the way the cookie crumbled?"

"Hey, if it's any consolation," Ellie interjected. "Mom hates Jack too."

"I'm sorry, Jack. What did you do?"

"I'm Irish," I replied. "What did you do?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is I've been dating her son for two years and she hates my guts."

I smiled. "You poor thing."

"Ditto for you."

When we got inside the restaurant, it was even ritzier than the parking lot. I felt completely out of place and Ellie was clinging to my arm. I got the impression she didn't like this place either. Even Heidi seemed uncomfortable and she was only four months old. Emily was clinging to Robbie's arm and I heard him whisper to her, "We'll just eat and leave. We don't have to stay here very long."

"I hate this place," Ellie whispered. I swear the girl was about to cry and I hate it when girls cry because I don't know what to do when they cry.

I just wrapped my arm around her and patted her shoulder. "We don't have to stay very long if you, Robbie, and Emily don't want to."

"Robert! Elizabeth!" That was her mother and that unbelievably annoying fake Southern Belle accent. "Oh, hello John, Emily, it's so lovely that you two could join us."

"OC, Ellie, Robbie, Emily, have a seat!" Mr. McClanahan welcomed us warmly. "Emily, how was California?"

"Sunny, warm, everything Minnesota isn't," Emily replied, sitting down between Robbie and Natalie.

I smiled as I took my seat between Ellie and Jennie. A waiter came over just then. "We don't have any high chairs," he said. "I'm very sorry, Mr. McClanahan, but we never have any customers with babies."

"It's all right," Ellie said. "I'll just hold her in my lap."

"Oh, good, good," the waiter said.

The entire meal was awkward. Between Kathie and Mrs. McClanahan both trying to make things miserable for Emily and me and Ellie and I taking turns holding Heidi in our laps while we ate, it was an unusual meal. By the time we were done with the main course, Robbie was digging for his keys in his pockets. After desert, he stood up. "OC, Ellie, Em, let's go."

I had Heidi at that point and I stood up quickly but not as fast as Ellie. "Goodbye, Dad, Mother. It was lovely seeing you. Kathie, don't forget you have a lesson on Monday night. Jen, Natalie, it was good seeing you. Goodnight."

I just nodded and said goodnight.

The minute we were in the car, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Ellie had seemed on the brink of tears the entire evening and she fell apart as Mac started up the car. "I can't do this anymore," she sobbed. "I can't stand listening to my mother insult my boyfriend just because he's Irish. She's so rude. She acts like the perfect society madam, but she has no manners. She yells at me for dating you."

I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. "Are you going to break up with me?"

She shook her head tears pouring down her cheeks. "I love you too much," she whispered.

"You love me?" I asked her. This was a great time to have this discussion with Heidi sleeping in her carseat and Robbie and his girlfriend in the front seat.

She nodded. "I love you, Jack. You and Heidi saved my life."

I ran my fingers through her soft brown hair. "I love you too, Ellie."

She smiled and leaned against my chest.

"You going to spend the night with her, OC?" Mac asked me.

"No," I told him firmly. "We're taking this slowly."

"Good man," he said.

When we got to her apartment, I walked her to the door and I carried Heidi for her. Before she went inside, I kissed her for the first time. Well, I'd kissed her that night she made me the omelet and pasta, but that didn't count. I was just trying to shut her up then. Now, I was kissing her because I was falling for her.

That's right. Jack O'Callahan was falling in love with a girl. The world is changing; my friends, and you just have to change with it.

A/N: Okay, that's the longest chapter I've ever written, nine pages in Microsoft Word. I would split it up if I could, but I can't. I'm really sorry. Please review if I didn't lose you.