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FYI This chapter ends in a cliffhanger.. Sorry, I just couldn't resist!

And.. I'll edit more later..

xoxo

Three weeks later the Rockets were back in Montreal. The team had just settled in their hotel and Gail was adamant to have Holly in her room and not at the brunette's parents house.

"Just stay here. With me." Gail pleaded almost whining. "Please Holls. Don't go."

"Yeah.." Holly kissed Gail. "I'll call my parents."

Gail roamed her eyes over Holly, while the keeper paced the room as she talked on the phone. Gail couldn't believe how happy she was. She couldn't believe Holly was hers. She was in a relationship with the perfect woman. Perfect for her. They were together and Gail was having all these mushy loving feelings. She knew before long she wouldn't be able to hold the 'I love you' from falling from her lips. She didn't want to keep it in, but was it too soon to say those words. Gail had never said it to anyone. Well.. Except family and friends, Gail pondered. I love Holly and I want her to know, she realized and a soft smile took over her lips.

"I'm staying here for the night. And… So. Um.. They want to meet you." Holly said as she put the phone down pulling Gail out of her thoughts. "Hello?" She prompted the dazed blond further.

"Huh?"

"Mom and dad." Holly said apprehensively, while eyeing Gail. "They invited you to dinner tonight."

"Right.." Gail swallowed.

"You don't have to. I can.." Holly quickly decided to give Gail an out.

"No. No. I want to." Gail cut in. "I'm just.. You know.. Nervous. Do you think your parents will like me?"

"They'll love you." Holly smiled. "They are very eager to meet you. To get to know you."

"Right." Gail sighed a little, not believing a word.

"My folks will love you. I promise." Holly pulled Gail into a tight hug. "Just be yourself." She grinned teasingly.

"My bitchy self will surely win them over." Gail snorted against Holly's shoulder.

"You're not bitchy." Holly pecked the blond on the lips.

"No, not with you." Gail said softly and captured Holly's lips for a headier kiss.

.

Holly and Gail were standing silent in front of the door to the Stewarts' house. Gail was taking deep calming breaths. She had never met anyone's parents and certainly didn't want to mess this up.

"We can't stand here all night." Holly said smiling softly. "Mom will soon come looking for us anyway."

"Oh crap.. Go ahead - Knock." Gail nodded and released the brunette's forearm.

Holly rapped her knuckles over the wooden surface and soon footsteps came to the door.

"Honey!"

"Hey mom."

"Sweetie, why on earth are you knocking? You have a key.. Oh hello." The older woman latched her eyes on the blond hovering next to her daughter.

"Sorry, I'm Gail Peck. Um.. Holly's.."

"Girlfriend." Holly said smiling proudly. "Mom, this is my Gail."

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Stewart." Gail shook Holly's mother's hand firmly.

"Oh shush with this Mrs. nonsence. Makes me feel ancient. Call me Celeste, please."

"Celeste." Gail repeated with a little smile.

"That's better." Celeste smiled warmly. "Come in girls. Dinner's in a minute. Gives Robert.. That's Holly's father.." She looked at Gail. "..time to interrogate you."

"What?" Gail's eyes widened.

"He can be difficult. He'll probably threaten you a little and give you the speech." Celeste sighed dramatically.

"The speech?" Gail swallowed.

"You know, if you hurt my daughter.."

"..I'll hurt you?" Gail guessed croaking a bit.

"Mom! Quit teasing." Holly intervened. "Gail, mom sometimes has a warped sense of humor. I should have warned you."

"So your dad's not going to.. give me the speech? And threaten me?"

"Well.. He might." Holly smirked, before pulling Gail with her further inside the house.

"Holly.." Gail hissed feeling slightly panicked.

"You must be Gail." A deep voice greeted them as they entered the living room.

"Gail meet my dad. He's a football fan." Holly smiled, before giving her father a tight hug. "Hi dad."

"Pumpkin." The man cooed. "Hello Gail. I'm Robert." Holly's father shook Gail's hand. "Nice to finally meet you."

"You too." Gail looked at him warily.

"I'm not gonna give you any speeches." Robert chuckled.

"How did.."

"I heard you three talking." Robert gave a lopsided grin. Very much like his daughter's.

"Oh." Gail sighed in relief.

"But you will treat my daughter right." Robert gave a pointed look at Gail. "Right?"

"I promise." Gail said sincerely and felt Holly squeeze her hand gently.

"Good. Let's eat." Robert clapped his hands together a few times.

.

After dinner, that had gone pleasantly, Holly steered Gail up to her old room. Gail thought that Holly's parents were nosy, but in a sweet and caring way. Gail had soon relaxed and felt at home and accepted. They had asked about Gail's life and family. And they had talked about football and some daily topics also.

"Here it is." Holly pushed the door open to her room.

"Nice. What is this – A bat cave?" Gail scoffed looking at the black painted walls.

"I was a bit dark.. ish as a teen." Holly shrugged.

"You? Don't believe it." Gail swept her eyes over Holly.

"I was. Lie down." Holly pointed at her bed.

"You just want to have your way with me in your.. woman cave." Gail said with a wave of her hand.

"Always." Holly grinned. "But now I wanna cuddle."

"Great! Me too." Gail hopped on the bed. "Come here." She said to Holly and patted the bed for emphasis.

"Cuddling is the best." Holly sighed happily as she molded her body against Gail's.

"They're so normal." Gail suddenly said breaking the easy silence.

"Normal?" Holly met Gail's eyes.

"Your parents. You know, dressed in jeans and talking about.. everyday stuff. Smiling and everything. And your mom was so subtle and sweet asking about me. About us. Normal. Nosy, but in a normal way."

"Okay?" Holly arched her eyebrow feeling slightly confused. "I'm not sure where you're going with this?"

"It's just that.. I'm so sorry. So sorry Holls." Gail moaned snuggling against tightly Holly, clinging onto the brunette like a koala bear.

"What? I'm still not following." Holly said baffled. "What are you sorry for?"

"Holly, you're gonna get a terrible shock, when you meet my parents! Especially my stylish, proper mother! Who is very very nosy and very very pushy and very.."

"What?"

"Weird. As in not normal." Gail rolled her eyes. "She has been asking about 'The woman I'm supposedly seeing'.. I haven't told her anything. I think Steve has blabbed. Well anyway, you're gonna get interrogated with or without the help of a polygraph, when you meet her. She hasn't visited you yet, has she?

"No."

"She might... Please forgive me."

"It'll be alright, honey. She can't be that bad."

"Oh you innocent sacrificial lamb. You're going to get creamed." Gail roller her eyes.

"Shut up now or else." Holly grinned pointing a finger at the fretting striker.

"Or else what?"

"I'll make you." Holly threatened with her eyes twinkling as she pushed Gail flat on her back. "Like this." She husked latching her lips on the blond's making the woman under her moan breathily.

"Okay. Make me." Gail surrendered.

Holly sneaked her tongue in Gail's mouth and her hand under Gail's shirt. The blond pushed her breast to Holly's touch. Holly's thigh was wedged between Gail's legs and the striker was having trouble not to start grinding heavily on it.

"This is getting out of hand.." Gail groaned huskily, while she kept palming Holly's jeans-covered ass. "Girls?" Holly father opened the door. "Oh jeez! Sorry." He yelped and slammed the door closed.

"That was.. slightly embarrassing." Holly let out a little laugh, after the door to her room had been pulled quickly shut with a faint 'carry on'.

"You think?" Gail groaned flopping back on Holly's bed. "Babe… Your dad caught us red handed!" She screeched unhappily.

"Your hands aren't red." Holly teased turning Gail's hand around. "If they were, that could be a symptom of Raynoud's disease, excessively reduced blood flow in response to cold or emotional stress, causing discoloration of.."

"Oh shut up." Gail pressed her index finger softly over Holly's mouth.

"Kiss me and I will."

"Again?" Gail asked glancing at the door. "What about your dad?"

"I'm sure he'll knock next time. He learns quickly. He's smart like that." Holly brushed her lips over Gail's, until nipping the blond's upper lip and running her tongue along it.

"Um.." Gail hesitated only for a moment. "Okay. Again." She husked wantonly, deepening their kiss.

.

The next day Holly and Gail were packing up their stuff in the hotel room. They would go to the stadium to get ready for their game against the Montreal Swans.

"We should get going. The bus leaves in ten minutes." Holly said folding some clothes neatly in her bag.

"Yeah. I'm almost done." Gail chucked more stuff in her own bag and struggled with the zipper.

"It's yours." Holly said, when a phone rang on the side table.

"Who could it be? We'll be late." Gail sighed.

"It's your mother." Holly handed the phone to the blond.

"Just what I needed.." Gail groaned. "Mom, hey. I'm in the middle of.."

"Hello darling. Just calling to invite you and your.. partner?" Elaine sounded slightly questioning. "..for dinner."

"My partner?" Gail glanced at Holly and then smiled.

"Gail, honestly. I keep pestering you and you insist on not sharing. Are you trying to tell me there's is no one?"

"Yes. I mean no. Yes?" Gail tried to confuse her mother to buy more time.

"I know you're lying and trying to inveigle even without seeing your face right now."

"Shit." Gail breathed.

"Do you want me to find out for myself and visit her like Miss Nash?"

"No! So.. The jig is up?"

"It is. So, who is she? This woman you've been seeing for a while now." Elaine said. "Beautiful, tall brunette."

"Yes. She is. Very beautiful." Gail whispered happily. "Wait. How do you know she's tall, brunette and beautiful?"

"I have my ways, you know this darling."

"Mom."

"I saw a picture of the two of you at the gala. My secretary forwarded to me." Elaine cleared her throat. "So who is this girl?"

"Holly." Gail said softly and smiled, when Holly poked her head out of the bathroom. Gail motioned, that she was still talking to her mother and Holly went back to packing.

"Holly." Elaine repeated satisfied. "And you're.. enchanted with her?"

"I am. I think I.." Gail trailed off watching Holly straighten up the room.

"Love her?" Elaine suggested.

"Yes." Gail murmured.

"That is wonderful darling. Your father and I wish nothing but happiness for you."

"I know." Gail swallowed feeling emotional.

"About this dinner.."

"We're really busy, so it might be a while until.."

"Nonsense. I'm sure you can squeeze us in you tight schedule. I'll e-mail you some dates?" Elaine shot Gail down. "You'll bring Holly to meet us. I can't wait to get to know her better." She sounded excited.

"Right.. So.. I've got a game to get to. The bus is leaving for the stadium. Gotta go."

"Gail, bring your girlfriend for dinner." Elaine said seriously. "That's an order." She continued, but Gail could hear the smirk in her voice.

"I will." Gail sighed in defeat. Holly would just have to tough it out, she realized.

"Good. Have a good game darling. Say hello to your Holly for me. Bye."

"Bye mom." Gail shut her eyes. "Crap. Dinner with my parents. Poor you." She said locking eyes with Holly.

"I'll be fine. We'll be fine." Holly smiled.

"My mother said to say hello to you." Gail muttered. "So.. hello."

"Hello." Holly pecked Gail on her cheek.

.

The game against Montreal was on its second half. Toronto was leading 1 – 0. Montreal was pushing hard and Holly had been the one to keep the game at the numbers it now was. She had been blocking shots left and right.

"Holly's on fire tonight!" Chloe squealed proudly, when she jogged next to Gail for a moment.

"Girl on fire." Gail smiled at Chloe.

"You're being weird."

"How?"

"You're smiling. At me."

"I'm.. happy and.."

"In love?" Chloe realized. "You love her." She nodded towards Holly, who had just caught the ball in her hands.

Gail was silent for a while, until nodding. "I love Holly." She breathed.

"That's great." Chloe cheered quietly. "Have you told her?"

"No, not yet."

"Oh shit!" Chloe suddenly croaked. "Holly!"

"What happened?" Gail turned to see Holly hugging the post trying to get back on her feet.

"She caught the ball, but collided against the post. She might have hit her head." Chloe rattled anxiously as they ran towards the keeper.

"Holly?" Gail called out alarmed.

"I'm fine." Holly groaned getting up.

"You're sure?" Gail came to the keeper and grabbed Holly's arm steadying her.

"Yeah.." Holly shook her head closing her eyes for a moment and swayed on her place.

"Really?" Chloe said unconvinced. "Really?" She repeated glancing at Gail with a serious expression.

"Holls, you don't seem fine.. The medics need to take a look at you." Gail demanded and waved for the medics to come check Holly out.

"Okay.." Holly gave alittle nod at the approaching medics and then at Traci.

"I'll go get you something to drink." Chloe rubbed Holly's back gently, before heading to the dugout.

"How did the dinner with Holly's parents go?" Traci pulled Gail a little further to give the medical crew space to do their jobs and to distract Gail from worrying.

"It was nice." Gail did not look at Traci, but kept staring at Holly.

"Nice?"

"They're really nice. Sweet, normal people you know."

"Great." Traci smiled glancing at the medics shining a light in Holly's eyes. The brunette was standing and seemed to be alright.

"Is she alright?" Gail bit her lip worriedly as she watched Holly. "She looks out of it.."

"They are checking. The medics know what they're doing." Traci said patting Gail on her shoulder. "So about that dinner? It was nice?"

"Yeah.. Though.. Her father caught us.. kissing in her room." Gail whispered turning to Traci.

"Kissing?" Traci snorted and locked her mischievous eyes with the blond's. "Only kissing? Kissing's not that bad."

"Um.. There was a little.. groping and moaning too." Gail admitted groaning. "Oh god.. It was so embarrassing!"

"What did he say? Did he throw you out on your ass for defiling his little girl?"

"Actually he said 'carry on' and shut the door." Gail snorted a little.

"So it went well." Traci concluded shrugging with a grin on her face.

"I liked them. And Holly said they liked me, so that's.."

"Gail, something's wrong." Traci said alarmed, seeing their goalkeeper drop unconscious on the ground with the medics quickly hovering over her.

"Oh my god, there's blood." Gail whispered, when one medic held a white cloth over the side of the keeper's head. The cloth turned red. "Holly!" She shouted as she started running to her girlfriend. Cold dread was filling her inside.

"This is not happening.." Gail croaked with tears in her eyes, when she knelt down next to Holly. "Holly?"

.

Thanks for reading :)