The restaurant was nice. It was a small family diner with a jukebox in the corner and loaded with pictures of Goldberg's family and Ducks memories that were plastered along the walls. Instead of choosing to work in his parents' deli, Goldberg went to college for a culinary degree and opened up his own: Goldie's.

Gordon hadn't been able to attend the grand opening but heard it went very well. He looked around, impressed with what his former goalie had done. Prior to this, it was an abandoned hair salon, so he'd heard. His head snapped up at the sound of excited screeching.

"Coach!"

Gordon laughed. He was pulled into a bone crushing hug. "Hey, Goldberg. Good to see you!"

"Charlie said you were coming!" Goldberg beamed. He jerked a thumb to the back corner where Charlie was indeed sitting, not even knowing he'd arrived. He was lost in his own thoughts, it seemed. Goldberg leaned in closer to Gordon. "Between you and me, I think he's a nervous wreck. He still hasn't heard about the job."

"He just went in for the interview a week ago," Gordon frowned. "He won't hear about it yet."

"I know, but Charlie thinks he must have blown it. He could really use a pep talk," Goldberg patted Gordon on the shoulder. "Would you like anything to eat?"

"Just a black coffee and apple pie if you don't mind," Gordon smiled.

"Coming right up!"

Gordon made his way over to Charlie's table. There was a half empty plastic cup of soda that the younger man was nursing along. He lightly kicked his foot, causing Charlie to jerk and come back to reality, looking sheepish.

"Sorry."

"Goldberg told me you were worried," Gordon commented as he sat down across from Charlie.

"Goldberg can't shut his mouth," Charlie muttered.

Gordon chuckled. "It's been a week, Charlie. You can't expect a response so soon."

"I know," Charlie squirmed in his chair. "But what if I screwed up?"

"It happens," Gordon told him. "Don't expect perfection."

And yes, he was well aware of the irony there.

He watched as Charlie slumped. "I really want this job," he said.

"I know," Gordon hadn't been surprised at all when Charlie came to him and said he wanted to be a teacher. The boy was a natural born leader, whether that was on or off the ice. And Gordon knew he would be great at handling those eighth graders just like he handled being captain. "And you might get it but you can't beat yourself up if you don't."

"You sound like Mom," Charlie sighed like a teenager all over again. "She basically said the same thing." He let a second or two of silence pass. "Speaking of my mom-"

Gordon braced himself.

"She's excited to see you now that you've moved back."

"She's excited?" Gordon repeated flatly.

"Yeah," Charlie nodded a little too fast.

"Charlie."

"Well, excited might be a bit of a stretch..." Charlie faltered. "But I'm sure she will be." Gordon sighed. "Come on, Coach. I know you still love her."

What he felt or didn't feel for Casey Conway was irrelevant. She wasn't about to take him back any time soon. She'd already moved on, as evident by her last marriage and short lived relationship. A part of him was petty; he was pleased to know that it hadn't worked out even though he shouldn't feel that way. He should want her to be happy and he did.

But with him.

Hearing her name brought back a flood of memories, reminders of what would never be and what he'd lost. Even after all these years, he wasn't over her. He wouldn't ever be. How could he just let himself forget what an incredible woman he'd let slip through his fingers?

"See!" Charlie took that as an affirmative. "You do!"

"She's...she's special," Gordon said carefully as Charlie's face lit up, "but it doesn't matter anymore. It's been years since we tried."

"You could always try again."

"It isn't that simple," Gordon told him. "Besides, even if I still loved Casey-which I don't," he added before Charlie could say anything, "I'm not interested in a relationship right now."

Charlie bit on his lip. "Still upset over Ms. McKay?"

"I think she's more upset at me."

He couldn't deny that he'd broken up with her so suddenly. And probably at the wrong time. It had been building for a while, he just didn't know if she'd noticed it. He knew she'd been hoping he would propose to her. She'd hinted at it. He'd even thought about it. He went as far as to walk to the nearest jewelry store , stopping dead in his tracks a few feet before he got to the door.

He couldn't do it.

Gordon couldn't propose. He couldn't give Michelle promises of a lifelong marriage with happiness and honesty when he knew none of it was right. Every time he kissed her, he felt nothing. None of the spark or fireworks or whatever crap people said to have felt when in love.

Not like when he was with Casey.

She consumed his thoughts. It was just the little things; he would hear her favorite song on the radio, catch a sight of curly blonde hair or imagine her right there whenever Michelle would hand him a cup of coffee. It wasn't right. He knew that and he tried not to go there. It wasn't fair to Michelle. She deserved better.

Better than him.

And finally, after holding it in to the point that he felt like he was going to burst, Gordon let it all out during the middle of a movie they were watching in her living room.

"I can't do this anymore."

The sound of the TV was the only noise that echoed in the room. Michelle removed her head from his shoulder, looking as though she weren't quite certain what to say. "What?"

He looked away, ashamed. "I'm sorry."

Her jaw quivered. She let out a breathy laugh, like she was struggling to make sense of it all. "What do you mean you can't do this?"

"I can't do this. I'm sorry, Michelle," he told her sincerely.

Her eyes turned glassy with tears. "I..I don't understand-"

"I thought we could make this work and we can't," he said quietly as she covered her mouth with her hands, sniffling. "I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner."

"It's her, isn't it?" She said, making him freeze. "Charlie's mom, Casey? I heard about you two, about your relationship."

He took her hands into his. "Michelle, I didn't do anything."

"I know," She nodded, a watery smile on her face. "I know you wouldn't. But it's about her, isn't it? You wish I were her, that you were with her."

"I-"

"I'm not faulting you," She pulled her hands away. "She's very pretty. Very nice. I spoke to her once we got back to Minnesota after the Goodwill Games. I can see why you like her."

He got to his feet when she did. "Michelle-"

"I remember when she came to pick Charlie up. I saw the way you two looked at each other. I..I tried to tell myself I was just seeing things and I shouldn't go looking for a problem when there isn't one..." She sniffled, her hand over her face as if shielding herself from the shame.

"Michelle-" he tried again.

"No," She stepped back, shaking his head. "Just go, Gordon."

His heart sank and he shut his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Just go," her voice was barely above a whisper. "Please."

So he did. The weather, ironically enough, matched his mood when it opened up and poured.

"Here you go, Coach!" Goldberg sat a steaming mug of coffee, along with a plate of apple pie-with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that he didn't order-on the table.

He accepted it with a thank you, thankful for the brief interruption.

"Want some more, Conway?" Goldberg asked.

"Huh? Oh. Sure, yeah. Thanks, Goldie," Charlie pushed his cup forward. Goldberg went to grab a pitcher and refilled it, asking the both of them if they were good and they were. He left them once again once five new customers came in-he was a bit short on staff. "Why'd you break up with her anyway?"

Gordon avoided his eyes, chewing on a bite.

"Come on," Charlie protested. "You can tell me. I'm not a little kid anymore. We're equals now."

"And yet you can't call me Gordon," Gordon couldn't help but chuckle.

"It's weird," Charlie admitted before taking the spoon for the ice cream and grabbing some for himself. Gordon raised his eyebrows to which the boy grinned innocently.

"I think Goldberg gave that to me."

"Yeah, but you don't need it," Charlie said cheekily.

"And you do?"

"I'm a growing boy, Gordon."

"Mhm," Gordon hid his amused smile. It dropped a second later as a sigh escaped him. "I've got to find a cheap apartment somehow."

"Yeah, cheap..."

"Tell me about it," Gordon shook his head.

"What about your old house?"

"Sold it," Gordon said. "I didn't have to worry about housing when I coached for the Goodwill games which luckily left me with some spare savings but it's not enough for a place."

He'd just returned to Minneapolis a few hours ago. The night before, he'd made the decision, after some hesitation, to put up some money for a room at a hotel. An inn would have been cheaper if there was one around. As a result, he was shorter on cash which didn't help his problem.

"Why don't you stay with me?" Charlie offered. "I've got plenty of room. It's a two bedroom."

"I couldn't-"

"Why? Where else are you going to go?"

Charlie had a point, Gordon would concede. At this rate, he would be sleeping in his car. "I don't know."

"You don't even have to pay rent or anything," Charlie said.

Gordon immediately protested. "I wouldn't feel right about that."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "I can take care of it myself."

"At least let me pay you something."

Charlie's eyebrows rose. "You're considering it?"

"Maybe."

"You should!" Charlie was nodding. "It'll be great. We can hangout and go drinking together and-"

"I don't drink."

Charlie blinked.

"Not anymore," Gordon coughed. He hadn't touched a drink in years, not since his drunk driving incident when he realized he'd become too dependent on alcohol.

Alcoholic. He'd been an alcoholic.

"Oh," Charlie said. "Okay. Well, scratch the drinking part then."

"How much are you drinking?" Gordon couldn't help but ask. It was out of concern. He didn't want any of his kids going down the same path he did.

"Not that much," Charlie gave him a weird look. He didn't know about Gordon's prior alcoholism. It wasn't exactly conversation worthy when with a child. "Barely any."

"Barely any?" Gordon repeated.

"Yeah..."

He wasn't about to talk about his past in public, even if the place wasn't full at all. He made a mental note to bring it up sometime later when they had privacy. "So," he said, switching the subject, "you're serious about your offer?"

"Of course," Charlie said, appearing to get excited. "I'll clean out the room before you come. I've got some stuff in there. Just some boxes I haven't unpacked."

"You've been living there for nearly five months."

"Yeah."

Gordon shook his head. "Alright, Charlie. I'll come live with you but only if you let me contribute to the rent and utilities."

"If you want," Charlie shrugged. "I'll figure something out for you soon. When do you plan on moving in?"

Gordon rubbed his neck. "Is today too soon?" He said quietly. He could always get another room at the hotel if need be.

"No," Charlie responded. "It's fine. I'll call Adam and see if he can help." He watched as Charlie pulled out his cell phone but Gordon held a hand up.

"That isn't necessary."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"No, it's really not necessary." Charlie was confused. "I don't have much stuff to move."

"What about all your furniture and stuff?"

"There is no furniture," Gordon told him. "I sold all of it when I was going to coach for the Goodwill Games. The apartments that were provided were already pre-furnished. I had nowhere for it to go."

"Oh."

"I'll have to go shopping for a bed sometime soon," he murmured more so to himself.

"Actually, you don't."

He looked up, surprised.

"Funny enough, my apartment was fully furnished when I looked at it. The previous renters left everything behind so I got to keep it, including the bed that's in the second bedroom."

"You're serious?"

"Completely."

"That's-wow, okay. That sounds great," Gordon was honest.

"I thought so too," Charlie smiled. "Mom was happy for me. She was worried how I was going to pay for the furniture. I'm working for a bakery that just opened up last year but it only gives me so many hours."

"Right," Gordon remembered those days-some of those days not so fondly.

Charlie gestured at his plate. "We can get started once you're finished."

"It doesn't have to be right now," Gordon said.

"It's not like I have anything else to do," Charlie said. "I'm off today. The owners are spraying for bugs."

"Alright," Gordon relented. "If you want."

"Were you always this stubborn?" Charlie joked and then added, "Just give me a sec to pay for all this."

Gordon was quick to disagree. "I can pay for my own stuff, Charlie."

"But I'm offering."

"You've offered enough."

"Goldberg!" Charlie barked before Gordon had the chance to open his mouth again. "I'm ready to pay!"

"Charlie!" Gordon protested. He turned to Goldberg as he came back to their table. "Don't listen to him, Goldberg. I can take care of my own stuff."

"I'll give you a nice tip," Charlie grinned.

Gordon almost laughed. "You can't bribe him."

"Yes, I can."

"Yes, he can."

Goldberg waited until he put the money down and signed for it, putting it away in the open pocket of his apron."

"So," he said casually, "I hear you're living with Charlie now."

"How did you even know that?" Gordon asked.

"He was eavesdropping," Charlie snorted. "You couldn't act subtle to save your life, Goldie."

Goldberg pouted.

"But, yes, I am going to be living with Charlie," Gordon said.

"When are you moving in?" Goldberg asked.

"Today," Gordon said.

"We should have a party!" Goldberg was excited.

"Goldberg, no-" Charlie started to say but his former teammate had blocked all opposition out.

"I'll go invite everyone!" Goldberg beamed, walking back to the kitchen area.

"This isn't a thing!" Charlie called.

There was no answer. Charlie was being ignored.

"I won't let anyone in!"

The only noise he heard back was the sound was Goldberg talking to whomever on the phone.

Charlie slumped down in his seat.

"Is it too late to pretend I don't know him?"