BongoBaby- I am glad you are still here. I hope that you are able to keep reading the story and see everything come to fruition. It all will make sense in time, I promise.

Emador- You always like it when Janny is up to his antics. Your reviews are always funny.

Flowersc781- So glad to hear from you. Thank you for the comments about Kylah and I hope you continue to enjoy reading her.

Klinoa- I hope you are feeling better. You are quite the detective of stories. You put together hints and such…and never miss a Dukes of Hazzard reference! LOL

Meadow567- Ramsey played for the Pens before too. The Wild beat the Pens, it was a great game, even if one of the Wild did get suspended over it. I was all, 'There is Ramsey' every time they showed him. Hope you enjoy the Pens Vs. Wings game.

Prettypinkcheer5- I hope the finals go great and you get good grades. And I am glad to help with a bit of the stress relief of finals.

Lia06- Yeah, I thought it'd be good for Kylah to open up some.

Strangexbutxtrue- There is a lot of story left to go, but I am glad that you are so excited. I enjoy your reviews, they're always entertaining.

October, 1979
(TPPOV)

Craig walked to the back of the locker room, looking for Doc. He found him cleaning up the exam table.

"Ah, Craig, how are you today?" Doc asked.

"I'm okay. Doc, you have a few minutes? I need to talk to you about Kylah." Craig said.

"You two are not having a pregnancy scare are you?" Doc asked.

Craig chuckled. "No, we're far from that even remotely being an issue."

"Sure Craig, what is on your mind?" Doc asked.

"Last week, Kylah told me that she had an older brother killed in Vietnam. That was the first time she ever told me about him. I didn't know he ever existed until she blurted out all about him." Craig said.

"If the boy was older than Kylah, he was the prime age that fought in Vietnam." Doc said.

"I know, and she was really close to him and has dealt with his death in…..her own way I guess you could say." Craig said.

"All people grieve differently Craig." Doc said.

"I know that….but now, well I am starting to wonder if I'm not just another way she is dealing with grief." Craig sighed.

"I am not sure I follow?" Doc looked confused.

"I am just afraid that Kylah is substituting me in Jake's place…..like she is looking for that older brother figure in her life." Craig said.

"But Craig, you are more intimate with Kylah than a brother/sister relationship." Doc said.

"I know, but I can't shake the feeling that I am filling a void in her life that was caused by the death of her brother. And that she was just looking for another person to care about her the way Jake did….whether that person have been a friend or a boyfriend." Craig said.

"Craig, I am not a psychologist. I don't know what Kylah feels. But I think if she were just looking for the companionship she had with her brother, she would've gotten that from the boys on the team. They're always including her in their activities." Doc said.

"I suppose your right there. She is close to the boys. Which is another thing that sort of bothers me but I try not to let it." Craig said.

"You're jealous of her relationship with the team?" Doc looked shocked.

"Not jealous really, just a bit concerned. I mean……there are some nice boys on this team, and Kylah is such a pretty girl and, well…..there are days I wonder…"

"If maybe she'll want one of the boys because they are closer to her age and in your opinion could offer her more?" Doc finished.

"Something like that. Sometimes I think I did a very selfish thing in starting a relationship with Kylah." Craig said.

"A lot of people certainly envy you." Doc chuckled. "Are you thinking of breaking things off with Kylah?"

"No!" Craig insisted. "I don't think I could even if I tried."

Doc smiled knowingly. "You've grown very attached to her."

"It's hard not to. I mean, I am with her every day and there is just something about her." Craig rolled his eyes. "I must sound like I'm sixteen looking at a cheerleader."

"Not at all. Craig….Kylah is very sweet and bright, and just friends with everyone. She's warm and caring….it's very easy to see why you are attracted to her. And why the boys like her so much." Doc said. "You care about her, she's with you for a reason, and I don't think it's because she misses her brother….give things time."

"You think so?" Craig asked.

"She is young…but she is her own woman, and it's obvious that she cares about you." Doc said.

"Thanks Doc. I needed to talk to someone, and I thought you'd know best being a doctor and all." Craig said.

"I am sure that everything will be fine. Just quit worrying so much and follow your true feelings." Doc said.

"I will." Craig smiled. He walked out of the locker room.

Craig walked upstairs to where Kylah's office was. The door was open. She was sitting at her desk, typing away at her typewriter. Craig walked into her office; she glanced up and smiled at him but kept on typing.

"You seem to be working hard?" Craig said and sat on the edge of her desk.

"I just want to get this finished and sent out. I don't know why I bother to write these. No one is paying attention to us. My last article appeared on the fourth page of the sports section right here in Minneapolis. Who knows where's its ending up in papers in other cities." Kylah said.

"You're doing a great job. How much longer you going to be?" Craig asked.

"Another 10 minutes or so." She answered.

"Since its Friday why don't we do something special tonight?" Craig asked.

"What do you have in mind?" Kylah asked, stopping to look up at Craig.

"I think we're long overdue for a nice formal date. Can you be ready by 7:30?" Craig asked.

"Sounds nice, of course I can." Kylah smiled.

"Great, I'll pick you up then." Craig smiled. He leaned down and gave Kylah a lingering kiss.

"You okay?" Kylah asked him.

"Never better. See you tonight." Craig told her and walked out.

XXXXxxxxxxXXXXXXXxxxxxxx

Kylah was putting on her shoes when she heard Craig knock on the door. Slipping on her pumps as fast as she could, she hurried to answer the door.

"Craig, perfect timing. I just finished getting ready." She told him as she opened the door.

"Kylah, you look beautiful." Craig said. Kylah was dressed in brown skirt and matching blouse.

"Thank you. I wasn't sure what to wear." She said.

"You look just great." Craig said. He leaned down and kissed her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked when he pulled back.

"Yeah." Craig answered. "You ready?"

Kylah nodded. Craig took her hand and they walked out of her apartment, down the hall and out of the dorm building.

Craig drove them to downtown Minneapolis to a Japanese restaurant.

"I've never eaten Japanese food before." Kylah said as they walked in.

"It's good, you'll like it. Herb told me about this place." Craig said.

Craig and Kylah sat at a bar with a hot grill in front of them.

"Craig is this safe?" she asked.

"Sure it's safe. You order and they cook the food right here in front of us." Craig explained.

"I don't want any raw fish…I don't care what Silk says." Kylah winked.

Startled Craig nearly choked on his water. "I'd almost forgot that incident."

Kylah giggled. "Why don't you order for me, so I don't know what any of these dishes are."

Craig nodded. "What would you like to drink?"

"Uhhhh, what do you drink with Japanese food? White or red wine?" she asked.

"I'll take care of it." Craig smiled. "You know, you really look gorgeous tonight."

"Thank you. Craig, you're acting like I'm the first woman you've seen after doing 25 years hard time." Kylah chuckled.

Craig shrugged. Craig gave their order and their wine was immediately brought to them.

"This is such a nice date. I can't thank you enough." Kylah said.

"You're welcome. I just thought it'd be nice to have an evening to ourselves. None of the boys interrupting us, a change of scenery, and I can show you off a bit." Craig smiled.

"Well I am really enjoying myself, as long as you didn't order me anything gross." She wrinkled her nose.

"I didn't, trust me." Craig said.

"I'll have to tell mom you brought me here. She's never seen anything like this." Kylah said.

"What have you told your parents about me?" Craig asked.

"That I was dating this really nice guy, who was the team's assistant coach. And that your apartment was next to mine. And that you had been helping me out since try-outs." Kylah said.

"Did you tell them I was older than you?" Craig asked.

"Mom asked how old you were and I told them the truth." Kylah said.

"And how do they feel about me knowing all that?" Craig said.

"They are happy that I am happy. They just want me to be happy." Kylah said.

"Are you happy?" Craig asked.

"Very happy. Getting better all the time." Kylah smiled and reached for Craig's hand.

"I am glad to hear that. Sometimes I look at you and wonder what in the hell a girl like you would ever see in a guy like me." Craig said.

"I see lots. You and the team are the best things that happened to me in a long time." She said.

"I am so happy to be here with you." Craig said. He picked up her hand and kissed it.

Soon their food arrived. Kylah looked skeptical while Craig delved right into his meal. Kylah leaned down close and looked at what Craig had ordered for her.

"What's wrong?" Craig asked her.

"What exactly is this?" she asked.

"It's sushi, without the raw fish. It's vegetables and rice wrapped in seaweed." Craig explained.

Kylah made a face and drew back from the plate. "Seaweed?"

"It's not that bad, and it's supposed to be healthy for you!" Craig said. Kylah raised her eyebrows. "Just try it. If you don't like, I'll order you something else."

Slowly Kylah reached for her plate and picked up one of the round clusters of rice and seaweed. She took a small bite and slowly chewed.

"Well?" Craig asked.

"It's kind of….well it's not bad." She said.

"I told you. I wouldn't order you anything you wouldn't like." Craig smiled and went back to his meal.

Slowly Kylah took a few more bites and then started eating her meal at a regular pace. They ate mostly in silence, but Kylah moved her foot to hook around Craig's calf.

"That meal was great." Kylah said as their plates were taken away and fortune cookies were left for them.

"It's been a great evening. I just wanted to spend time with you." Craig said.

Kylah smiled at him. "Should we read our fortune cookies? You know just for fun."

"Did our fortunes from the last time we had fortune cookies come true?" Craig asked.

"I don't remember them." Kylah said, reaching for a cookie. She broke it open. "Open up your mind. Expect an unbelievable occurrence."

"You must be going to win the lottery." Craig joked.

"No, I don't play it." Kylah giggled. "Open yours."

Craig took a cookie and broke it open. "Life is changing fast. Be true to those things which are most important."

"I heard somewhere these things are written so vague so people can make anything apply to them." Kylah said.

"Probably so. Are you ready to leave?" Craig asked.

"Sure." Kylah said. Craig took her hand and after paying their bill, walked out of the restaurant.

"I can't believe that it's so cold here already. It's not even Halloween yet and we need coats." Kylah said. "I am so used to mild weather when the kids are trick-or-treating."

"Being from Detroit I am used to this." Craig said and wrapped an arm around her in an effort to keep her warmer as they walked across the parking lot.

"It's not so bad. Maybe this year I'll get enough snow to build a snowman, or go sled riding. I never got to do any of that as a kid." Kylah said.

"It never snowed in Qualla?" Craig asked.

"Never much, usually light snow that melted quickly." Kylah said.

Craig stopped to open Kylah's door for her. Kylah started to sit down, but Craig tugged on her elbow stopping her. When she turned to look at him, he leaned down and kissed her.

"Craig, is the electric chair waiting for you back at the U why you keep doing that?" Kylah asked.

Craig smiled. "You just looked so pretty, I couldn't resist."

Kylah smiled and got into his car.

Craig drove them back to the U. When they walked into the dorms, the hall was quiet. None of the boys were anywhere to be seen.

"They must be out for the evening, or too tired to be rowdy." Craig said.

"Well ever since Herb showed those films of the Soviet team, Herb has been a man possessed at practice. I think the boys are tired and wary of Herb." Kylah said.

"Herb is very determined." Craig said as they walked towards their apartments.

"Would you like to come in for awhile? Unless you have something else you need to do." Kylah said.

"There is nothing else I would rather do." Craig said.

Kylah unlocked her apartment and walked in with Craig behind her.

"Make yourself comfortable. I will be right back." Kylah said.

She left Craig in the living room and walked into her bedroom. She kicked off her pumps. She saw Smokey lying asleep on her extra pillow. She walked back into the living room. Only the lamp beside the couch was on, and Craig was lounging on the couch.

"Craig?" Kylah moved further into the room.

"Thought this was more romantic lighting." Craig said. "We can change it if you want."

"No, I like it." Kylah said and sat down with Craig on the couch.

"I thought it'd be nice just to relax and snuggle a little to end the evening." Craig said. "Do I sound like a softie?"

"You sound just perfect. And you have a great idea." Kylah said and moved into Craig's arms.

Kylah laid her head on Craig's chest and relaxed. Craig was content just to hold her, push her hair away from her face and gently rub her arms and back. Eventually, she fell asleep listening to his heartbeat.