Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Rating in Prologue.

A.N- This chapter's been changed slightly, mostly because I moved the Kathleen bit that was originally here to Part 27 and I just changed some little things, like I have with all the chapters.

Part Thirty-One: Almost Over

Elizabeth got back to the hotel and headed straight to her room.

She had her own room, since she was the only girl, though it was connected to her father's. She knew it was his way of chaperoning her, but it was too bad since all the boys were sharing rooms. Still, she had known that it would be like that, since that was the way it had been on every other trip.

Elizabeth began to unpack some of the luggage she had brought with her. She might only be there for two nights, but she hated living out of a suitcase, so she always tried to unpack a little.

They were going straight to Lake Placid from here, so she brought a fair bit of luggage, much to the disgust of her father and most of the boys. They just didn't seem to understand how much stuff a girl needed to spend almost three weeks away from home.

Elizabeth turned her mind to Lake Placid. Her mother and siblings would be joining them there, along with Kathleen, of course.

They'd all be arriving together, so Elizabeth would see them in a few days. She was looking forward to having there--she was glad that she'd be able to share this experience with them.

It would be an a amazing thing, she was sure of that.
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"Dad?" Elizabeth called out, knocking on the door that adjoined their hotel rooms.

"Come in!" Herb called from the other side.

"How was dinner?" He asked as she entered.

Elizabeth smiled. "It was good. Nana was wonderful as always."

Herb shot her a look. "That's not usually my word for her, but to each their own." Elizabeth laughed and crossed the room, to look at the piles of notes her father was studying intently.

"Going over tomorrow's game?" She inquired.

"Trying to." He told her.

"Why did you want this?" She asked him. "I mean, why did you want to play the Soviets three days before the Olympics?"

She had her suspicions, but she wanted confirmation.

"Because it's the only test that will really prepare them." Herb told her. "They have to see for themselves how the Soviet machine works and I want it to happen now, before we put everything on the line."

Elizabeth nodded in understanding.

"Besides, it wouldn't hurt for them to underestimate us." Herb told her. "That way, when the time comes, they won't see us coming."

Elizabeth grinned at the thought. "Well, lesson or not, I'm definitely looking forward to the game." She told her father. "I know it's disloyal, but I can't wait to see--"

"Tretiak." Herb interrupted with a sigh. "Yeah, I know. Just try to tone down your enthusiasm tomorrow. We are playing against him after all."

"Okay." Elizabeth agreed with a laugh. She hugged her father suddenly.

"What's that for?" Herb asked with a fond smile.

"Just because." She told him, smiling warmly at him. "Thank you for bring me along."

"I couldn't have imagined these last few months without you, Princess.' Herb told her, using the team's nickname for her. "You've been a big help."

"I've enjoyed it." She assured him. "Most of the time, anyway. I could have lived without the dirty laundry."

Herb chuckled. "I have to admit that wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I asked you to come along."

Elizabeth laughed. "No, but it came with the territory. You wanted me to be their friend and I was, you wanted me to keep everything in order and part of that meant doing their laundry. At least I didn't have to cook."

"For which we are all very grateful, as I wouldn't want my team to all die of food poisoning." Herb retorted.

Elizabeth glared at him and then laughed. There was really no retort, because she truly was so bad a cook that food poisoning might have been an option.

The two of them were silent for a long moment.

"I can't believe it's almost over." Elizabeth said finally.

"Neither can I." Herb echoed, his eyes getting a faraway look in them. "A little over two weeks and all this will only be a memory."

They were silent for another long moment, letting the impact of those words was over them.

"I'm gonna go to bed." Elizabeth said finally, breaking the silence. "Night Dad."

"Goodnight sweetheart." Herb said, kissing her cheek.

Elizabeth smiled slightly, as she exited her father's room.

Once she was back in her room, she stood there, just lost in though. A little over two weeks and it'd all be over. Wow, the time had just flown by.

It seemed like only yesterday that they had all been gathered in Colorado, yet it was almost all over. How could that be?

Once again, Elizabeth wondered what would happen when it was over. She shook her head, there was no way of knowing until the time came.

For now, she had bigger things to worry about. The moment that they had all been waiting for was almost there, the question was, could the boys pull it off?
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