Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Rating in Prologue.

A.N- At this point I will mention that when I refer to "Mark", I mean Mark Johnson. When I say "Pav", I mean Mark Pavelich. Okay?

Part Eleven: Starting Over

Early October, 1979

The next few weeks were busy ones, filled with games and travel. Herb had put together a gruelling, 60 game Pre-Olympic schedule, including a game against the Soviets right before the Olympics, so things were pretty hectic.

It was after one of these many games that they were delayed in the airport because the plan hit a moose. A moose.

Elizabeth found the idea both amusing and bewildering.

"How did we hit a moose?" Elizabeth wondered out loud to some of the boys.

Her father had made Jack, Robbie and a few of the others, go push the plane back onto the hanger to make sure there was no damage; while Elizabeth and the rest of the team sat inside the airport. The boys played poker, while she read a book--she was a terrible poker player and decided that reading was a better option.

Herb was on the phone talking to Patti, explaining the situation, and from what Elizabeth could hear from his end, her mother seemed concerned about the welfare of the moose.

Rizzo shrugged at her question. "I don't know. It was there and we hit it. That's all I know."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and went back to her book. Suddenly, she was aware of a pair of cold hands on her cheeks.

"Ahh!" She screamed and looked up to see Jack standing there. He was wet and cold, not surprising given that it was freezing rain outside.

"You're mean!" She cried out.

He smirked. "Sorry Princess." He collapsed into the chair next to her. "Your old man is going to kill me, did you know that?"

Elizabeth just smirked. "Ah, can't take it?"

He shot her a look. "I can take it, I just don't want to."

"Poor Jack." She murmured teasingly. "Don't worry, you'll be able to rest in a little bit. Think about the nice, long flight back to Minnesota."

"Easy for you to say, you didn't have to push a plane." Jack grumbled.

"You know, I don't see Mark whining." Elizabeth commented, looking over at Mark who had also come inside.

"That's because I'm more of a man than O.C." Mark smirked.

Elizabeth just raised an eyebrow, while Jack looked offended. She rolled her eyes.

"Boys." She muttered under her breath and then went back to her book, proceeding to ignore them all.
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On the plane ride home, once they were finally able to leave, Elizabeth ended up in the seat next to Robbie.

This was interesting, since she usually went out of her way to avoid things like that happening. However, this once she decided not to let it bother her.

"Hey," she said quietly, once the plane had taken off, "you look exhausted."

"That's because I am. Pushing a plane takes a lot out of you." He said with a smile.

"Besides, I'm always tired these days. I thought your dad was a tough coach at the U, but he's like ten times worse now."

"This means a lot to him." Elizabeth said quietly. "I know his ways are harsh, but he means well."

"I know." Robbie said and then grinned. "Besides, I can take it. It's only a few more months, right?"

"Right and what's a few months after four years?" Elizabeth asked with a laugh.

"True, anyway if we win it'll be worth it." Robbie told her. "That would be worth anything."

"You really want it, huh?" She asked quietly.

"It's my dream." He told her. "I mean the National Championships were sweet, but noting compared to what an Olympic gold medal would be."

"I know my dad wants it badly." Elizabeth confided. "It means the world to him, that's why he's so hard on you guys."

"He's a good coach." Robbie told her. "If he weren't, he wouldn't make us work so hard."

"I'm sure there are times when you wish that he was a little less dedicated." Elizabeth teased.

"Yeah, like tonight. Man I'm exhausted." He told her. "And there's another practice tomorrow."

"Then you should get some sleep." She told him with a smile.

"But then I wouldn't get to talk to you." Robbie pointed out. "It's not often that I get to sit here and talk to you, just the two of us. You normally try to avoid one-on-one situations."

"MacÖ"

"I'm not making judgements; I'm just saying that it's nice." He told her before she could protest. "I've missed talking to you, Lizzie. I used to love it when we'd stay up for hours, just talking all night long."

Elizabeth smiled at the memory. She had loved that too, it was the thing she missed most about their relationship.

"I've missed that too." She admitted softly.

"Any chance you've missed me?" Robbie asked her.

"MacÖ"

"Yeah, I know." He told her. "But I didn't mean it like that. I want to be friends again, Lizzie."

"Aren't we?" Elizabeth asked softly.

"I meant, really friends--like we were before everything else." He told her. "I've missed talking to you."

Elizabeth looked at him and then smiled. She'd missed that too and it would be nice to begin again. To go back to where they were, before everything else and see if they could reclaim some of what they'd lost.

"I'd like that." She meant it. She missed talking to Robbie.

As much as she valued her friendships with the other guys on the team, they weren't Robbie. He had hurt her badly in the past, but he had also once meant the world to her and they had been really good friends once, aside from whatever else they had been. She didn't want the romance back, at least she wouldn't let herself want it back, but she wanted the friendship back.
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