Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Rating in Prologue.

A.N- This is a new chapter that wasn't in my first draft of the story. I introduce Kathleen a little earlier than I did before and bring in an entirely new character. This might seem a little awkward, because it has nothing to do with hockey, but I wanted to show a bit of Elizabeth's normal life. Also, Elizabeth's grandmother had been in my mind for a while, I had always planned on bringing in her at the end (and in the sequel) and I just decided to bring her in earlier. Well, that's all. Enjoy!

Part Three: Before the Storm

"So am I going to get to see you at all in the next seven months?" Kathleen Andersen, Elizabeth's best friend, asked quietly.

The first practice was the next day, so Elizabeth taking advantage of what she assumed would be a very-rare off-day, to get some things done. Including a little bit of quality time with her best friend.

"Occasionally." Elizabeth said with a smile. "Kat, it's not forever and this kind of opportunity only happens once in a lifetime."

"Oh, I know." Kathleen told her. "It's just that I'm going to miss hanging out with you and I still think it sucks that you're taking the year off."

"I needed the break." Elizabeth told her. "We can't all be bookworms like you."

Kathleen just laughed, she adored school and always had. "Well, I can't stay I blame you too much." Kathleen teased. "After all, I can see the appeal. Spending time with all those attractive young menÖ"

"Yeah, well, it's definitely a perk." Elizabeth agreed with a grin. "Of course, all those attractive young men are completely off limits. My father made it clear, I'm not allowed to date any of his players."

"Speaking of that, it's not going to be weird seeing Mac all the time?" Kathleen inquired.

Elizabeth sighed. "Yeah, it'll be weird, but what can I do?"

"Is he being Mac?" Kathleen asked sympathetically.

Elizabeth laughed ruefully. "Of course, he is. You know him---he just doesn't know when to stop."

"Sounds like the Robbie McClannahan I remember." Kathleen said with a smile. "Anyway, Lizzie if you need to talk or vent, remember I'm always here."

"I know." Elizabeth said with a smile. "And I'm sure I'll be taking you up on that many times over the next seven months."

Kathleen smiled. "That's okay. After all, what else are best friends for?"
---

Elizabeth spent the morning with Kathleen, then headed home. She had a few more things that she had to do before the next day. Just as she got home, the phone rang.

"Hello?" Elizabeth answered, since she was the only one home.

Her mother was out with Kelly and Danny and Herb had meetings all day.

"How's my favourite granddaughter?" A warm voice asked her.

"Hi Nana." Elizabeth said, greeting her maternal grandmother, her biological mother's mother. "I'm good. I just walked in the door actually."

"At the rink again?" Gloria Hastings asked disapprovingly.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No. Actually, I was with Kathleen. Practices don't start until tomorrow."

"I still think it's a shame for a beautiful girl like you to waste your summer in an arena, with a bunch of sweaty hockey players." Gloria told her. Elizabeth smiled.

She and her grandmother had had this conversation many times before.

"Nana, it's my choice, besides it'll be a wonderful experience for me."

Gloria snorted. "Hah. You sound just like your father." E

lizabeth smiled again. Gloria was not Herb's biggest fan, to put it mildly. "Well, I am his daughter after all."

"Yes, more's the pity." Gloria muttered. "Are you sure I can't convince you to come spend the summer in New York with me instead? It'd be much more appropriate learning experience for a young woman."

"Nana, this is what I want to do." Elizabeth said patiently. "But I promise, I'll come visit as soon as the Olympics are over."

"Well, if you change your mind, the offer's always open." Gloria told her.

"I know." Elizabeth replied. "And I'm grateful, but I'm not going to change my mind. I'm doing this, Nana, I have to do it."

Gloria sighed. "Now, you sound like your mother. She was as stubborn as mule too."

Elizabeth laughed. "Then I come about it fairly. Anyway, Nana, I have to go, I have some more errands to do."

"All right, go, just don't get too busy that you forget all about your grandmother."

"Never." Elizabeth assured her. Smiling, she hung up the phone. Talking to Gloria was never dull, that was for sure.
---

"You know it's not too late for you to change your mind." Patti told Elizabeth that night, after dinner.

Elizabeth had been in her room, going over some notes that Herb had given her, when Patti had knocked on the door.

"I know Mom," Elizabeth said patiently, "but I don't want to change my mind. I want to help Dad out."

Patti sighed. "I still don't like the idea of you leaving school."

"Mom, it's only a year." Elizabeth assured her. "Besides, I was going to take the year off anyway; this just gave me something to do with my time off."

Patti was silent, but Elizabeth knew her mother wasn't happy.

"Besides, won't it nice to have me back in the house again?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.

She'd lived in a dorm her first year at the U and in an apartment with friends for the last two, but she had moved back home when she had decided to take the year off school.

Patti smiled. "You know it will be. But, I was looking forward to actually getting to see you."

"You will." Elizabeth promised. "Dad's not going to have me working all the time."

Actually, Elizabeth wasn't so sure of that, her father could be pretty driven, but she wasn't about to mention her doubts to her mother.

"All right," Patti said after a moment, "I suppose you're old enough to make your own decisions and it'll be a good experience for you."
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