The last chapter starts here – NOTE! I'm posting this in two (shortish) parts! The whole chapter sadly is not finished yet, but I wanted to give you something now.

So part 1 here. Part 2 should be up in a few weeks.

xoxo

The Toronto Rockets had won Winnipeg earlier in the day and cemented their place in the finals. After the game Gail had snagged her friend Traci with her as soon as the defender had barely had time to shed her cleats. So now Traci was visiting Gail. In her sweaty team jersey and hastily pulled up sweatpants. She had managed to grab her duffel bag with. Her better jeans and shirt along with her shower bag in it. At Gail's the blond had shoved Traci in the bathroom, hollering 'Be quick' before slamming the door.

When both were clean and dressed, Gail had fessed up and muttered that she needed to talk. That had been two hours ago. To talk – had meant Traci was to listen to Gail's fretting, moaning and freaking out about the upcoming dinner with the Pecks. Traci had tried to be supporting, but was sure that the striker's anxiousness was wasted. Traci eyed Gail, who was pacing with her phone pressed against her ear.

Traci knew the Pecks were eager to meet Gail's girlfriend. Especially Mrs. Peck. 'Traci, please, convince our Gail to bring her sweetheart to meet us', Mrs. Peck had pleaded, when she had called Traci unexpectedly - obviously hoping her to kick Gail in gear. 'We are not going to cause Holly or Gail to fret. Tell her that. I haven't even barged at Holly's door! And I won't.' Elaine had promised. Traci smirked looking at her friend.

"Stop fretting. I've suffered enough." Traci commented dryly noting Gail wringing her hands. "That was Holly?" Traci asked, when Gail put down her phone.

"Yeah."

"She's nervous? Like you." Traci continued. "Meeting the in-laws and all? Finally." She finished pointedly.

"No." Gail groaned. "And what do you mean 'finally'?"

"You, Gail, have postponed the dinner for weeks! Your mom has begged and pleaded. I have begged and pleaded with you to get this over with."

"Holly was injured." Gail offered meekly not looking at Traci.

"That was weeks ago. She's fine. Holly's played bunch of games since then." Traci rolled her eyes.

"I know." Gail smoothed out her pants. "Holly would have wanted to visit my parents the week we returned from Montreal. I said she should rest.. And then there was all kinds of stuff. Games and everything. We've been busy."

"Busy avoiding.. So Holly really isn't nervous? About the dinner."

"She's not nervous at all! That's awful." Gail flailed her hands.

"Awful? How?" Traci scoffed. "Isn't it nice Holly wants to meet your folks?"

"She's totally open and vulnerable to mom's probing and.."

"I'll be there with Steve. And your mother won't do anything.. weird. She won't. She just really wants to meet your.. Sweetheart." Traci sing-songed the last word.

"So she says.. Did she really refer to Holly as my sweetheart?"

"Yes."

"You need to be vigilant and help me to protect Holly with your life."

"With my life?" Traci chuckled. "It's just dinner. Calm down."

"Just dinner?" Gail snarled with a pointed finger.

"Okay.. I promise I'll tackle your mother, if she makes a move." Traci deadpanned putting her hands on her hips.

"Fine. Mock me." Gail spat.

"Everybody loves Holly." Traci inserted patting Gail on the shoulder.

"My mother?"

"I would bet on it." Traci nodded confidently.

"Sucker.." Gail huffed.

"Why are you so nervous? Your mother is quite lovely.. When one gets to know her better." Traci said shrugging a little. "And besides.. Why would your mother be hard on Holly? Your girlfriend is a genius. A doctor to be. Successful athlete. Sweet. And you are.. Well, no offense.. But you are you."

"Non taken. Asshole." Gail grunted. "I am me. Because I'm the baby of the family. My mother's little baby girl." She groaned. "And.. I haven't brought anyone home before. So.. There's that."

"Actually.. You might be right." Traci smirked evilly. "Elaine might even whip out that trusty old polygraph machine. Or her ancient weapon's collection. Or her.."

"You were supposed to calm me down Trace!"

"No can do. Holly's gonna get grilled. You know how your mother can be." Traci shrugged as she peered out of the window. "Steve's here. Come on, you have to go and pick up your girl. We'll meet you there. At the roast!" She hollered over her shoulder bolting out the door.

"Shit." Gail squeaked. "Mom wouldn't do that… She would. Shit."

.

Holly was gathering her things together as she got ready for the dinner at the Pecks. Chloe handed Holly her purse and kept eyeing the keeper curiously.

"What?" Holly met Chloe's gaze, before looking at her reflection on the mirror. "Is there something.."

"You look beautiful." Chloe assured.

"Thanks." Holly smiled.

"When is Gail coming to pick you up?"

"In a few minutes."

"I heard you two talking." Chloe nodded. "How is she?"

"She's fine." Holly met Chloe's eyes. "Just a little.. Nervous."

"Little nervous? A slight understatement, if you ask me." Chloe snorted. "For weeks Gail's been fretting like there's no tomorrow."

"Gail has been.."

"A nervous wreck." Chloe finished. "And you?"

"I just want to get to know her parents. Take that step and move on to the next."

"Next step? So you'll be moving out soon?" Chloe teased. "And taking Gail with you? She's been here more than at her own house lately. Eating all our food. She eats more than me!"

"We have talked about it." Holly said with a smile ghosting on her lips.

"Seriously?" Chloe gawked.

"Seriously."

"Well, crap." Chloe said with a slagged jaw. "I mean I'm happy for you. Very happy!" She hugged Holly. "But this apartment is too big for me."

"Too expensive?"

"No. I do get paid, you know. Not quite as much as you, but still." Chloe said in mock offense.

"Sorry." Holly smirked. "My room can be a gym?"

"Gym?" Chloe grimaced. "No thanks. Maybe a activity room?"

"That sounds a bit nasty."

"Get your mind out of the gutter!" Chloe sighed overacting heavily. "A pool table or something.." She mused.

"So you're staying here?" Holly asked. "If I move in with Gail."

"If?" Chloe snorted. "Holly honey.. It's when. When you move in with Gail."

"When."

"I think I'll stay." Chloe nodded. "So about this dinner tonight. How come you're going now? I mean it's been weeks since Mrs. Peck invited you two."

"Gail's been.. successful in postponing the date."

"She doesn't want to introduce you to her parents?"

"I thought so at first. We even fought about it, but.."

"But?"

"It's not that. Gail's scared that her mother will traumatize me and make me run." Holly shook her head with a little grin painted on her lips. "Unbelievable."

"Huh?"

"Apparently her mother is a character and Gail is.. unwilling to let me fall in to her claws."

"Claws? Ouch. Momma Peck sounds absolutely delightful." Chloe snorted. "Nice night ahead for you then."

"It'll go great. I'm sure Gail's just overreacting. Traci said Mrs. Peck is an acquired taste."

"An acquired taste? That doesn't sound any better."

"I'm sure she's nice. I'm the first girl Gail has ever brought home." Holly rubbed her hands together tapping her fingertips. "It'll go great." She repeated.

"An optimist I see." Chloe lifted an eyebrow smirking. "It'll go great." She agreed giving Holly a hug. "You'll be the first girl to meet Momma Peck."

"Right."

"And you will be the last." Chloe smiled, before pecking Holly's cheek affectionately.

.

Gail had run into Holly in the hallway of Holly's building and escorted the brunette to her car. They had driven mostly in silence, while the blond's hands had been either gripping the wheel tightly or thrumming against it nervously. Holly petted Gail's thigh gently. Gail sighed like she wanted to say something, but then closed her mouth.

"You're really tense. And your mind is obviously churning. Do you want me to drive?" Holly smirked. "You don't want to get a ticket, if you're going to be a police officer one day."

"I'm perfectly fine to drive drive. I'm just.." Gail trailed off and continued to thrum her fingers on the steering wheel. "I love you Holly."

"I love you." Holly smiled keeping her hand on Gail's thigh.

"We're almost there." Gail gulped giving Holly a wide-eyed glance.

"You look horrified. Calm down honey."

"I can't. One word – my mother!" Gail practically squealed.

"That's two words." Holly countered.

"Hmph." Gail hurrumphed as she parked in front of her childhood home.

"Come on honey, think like a proton." Holly cooed.

"Oh my God.. What?" Gail met Holly's mischievously twinkling eyes.

"Stay positive." Holly grinned. "You know, because…"

"Positive protons? Really? No geeky anecdotes, please. Let me freak out in peace." Gail tried to hide her smirk.

"Do you need a kiss?" Holly purred.

"Oh, do I ever." Gail breathed closing her eyes. She puckered up her lips.

Holly pecked the blond and smiled, when Gail kept her eyes closed after Holly pulled away. "Let's go." The brunette whispered.

"Do we have to?" Gail whined.

"Yep." Holly grinned. "I wanna meet your family."

"Why?"

"Because." Holly said as she excited the car. "They made you."

"Right. They got lucky." Gail took a deep breath and followed Holly. She caught up with the slowly sashaying brunette and grabbed her hand lacing their fingers together.

"Please.. Please don't blame me for whatever my mother does."

"Calm down."

"Promise me Holls."

"Jeez.. I promise." Holly kissed Gail's forehead. "Can we knock now?"

"I guess."

"Here we go." Holly said squeezing the blond's hand, before knocking on the wooden surface.

.

Thanks for reading :)

AN/ I'll edit later.