Xcapitalbarbie90: Thanks for the review! I love Silky, he's so funny. Even though I only made his personality based on the little bits and pieces of him in the movie, I can totally picture him doing the stuff I have him do, lol. Glad you like the story.

Emador: Haha, Phil. Gotta love him. And yeah, it probably could mess up the kid. It would mess up the relationship even more though if the kid wasn't yours, lol. Thanks for both of the reviews!

Jenny: Yeah, Silk's funny, lol. And he's not at all a gentleman. : ) Thanks for the review!

justlikewedo: Thanks! Glad you liked them. It's so nice to be on break now. I love it! Hope you like this chapter too.

Meadow567: Yeah, that would have been funny. I didn't even think about it, lol. Thanks for the review.

Nelliebly413672: Oh I know, don't you hate that. It's like, okay why don't you keep talking in your own conversation, lol.

A/N: Here's a little Christmas present for you guys because of all of the amazing reviews I got last chapter. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Thanks again for all of the reviews!!

Chapter 31

February 20, 1980

That afternoon the guys had their last game in the qualifying round against West Germany and won, and they had beaten Romania two nights before. No official announcements were being made until the next morning, so the guys didn't know who they were playing next. After the game, most of the guys stuck around to see the outcome of the Czech versus Sweden game. If Sweden won, they US team would be second in their division and play the Soviets first, but if Sweden lost, the guys would most likely play Finland first. In the locker room, they began arguing over the standings and who would play who in the medal round. Maddie thought it was pretty amusing to watch, because it didn't matter either way. It wasn't like the guys could do anything about it. Soon, the locker room was very loud, due to the guys trying to yell over one another.

"Guys!" Maddie said in an attempt to yell over everyone's voices. "What's with all the arguing?" Immediately, they all tried to answer at once, causing them to yell and argue even more. "I give up," said Maddie, now walking out of the locker room with her daughter. She ran into Doc and Craig on the way out.

"What's going on in there?" Craig asked.

"They're just voicing their opinions about the next games," Maddie said, trying to put it lightly. Doc smiled, knowing very well that Maddie meant the guys were full out arguing.

"It sounds like they're a little on edge," Doc said.

"You can say that again. They all need to calm down and think about other things."

"Yeah, the more stressed they get over this, they'll end up going crazy," Craig said, agreeing.

"Are you kidding? The more stressed they get, they'll make me go crazy. I wish they would just realize that the outcome won't change if they talk about it or not."

"We'll go in and see what we can do," Craig said, referring to himself and Doc. While Maddie waited for Jack, she walked around with Izzy. About ten minutes later she went back to the locker room to find Jack, Mac, Rizzo, Silky, and Buzz looking at a sheet posted on the wall. It had the standings so far and the games that were being played later that day.

"See," Mac said. "In order to play the Soviets in the finals, and not tomorrow, Sweden needs to lose today."

"Okay, I guess you're right, but Finland also has to beat the Netherlands," Buzz said.

"What are you talking about?" Jack said. "That game had nothing to do with anything."

"Yeah, it determines who else makes it to the medal round besides the Soviets," said Silky.

"Yeah, right now, it's either Canada or Finland."

"But the soviets are still in first, so it really doesn't matter," said Jack. "The only thing that matters is whether we're first in our division or second. If Sweden wins, we'll be in second."

"How's that? We'll have the same points," said Silky.

"They have a better goal differential," said Mac. Maddie, who had been watching the guys from a distance decided to interrupt.

"But of course, if Canada wins today, it'll throw everything off," she said.

"Hey Maddie," said Jack.

"Canada won't win though," said Silky.

"Why not?" Maddie asked.

"They're playing the Soviets," said Buzz.

"And?" Maddie said.

"Come on, Maddie. It'll be a cold day in hell if Canada wins," said Jack. "You know that as well as I do." The guys all nodded in agreement, but Maddie wasn't as convinced as them.

"So you're telling me that Canada has no chance in beating the Soviets, but you guys do?" No one answered, but they all began thinking about what she said. None of the guys thought of it like that. If they planned on beating the Soviets, anyone could.

"I gotta give you credit Maddie. You made a pretty good point there," said Silky.

"You're still not off the hook," Maddie said.

"I really mean it Maddie."

"Guys, think about it," Jack said, interrupting Silky and Maddie. "We've worked really hard the last seven months. I don't think any other team wants to beat the Soviets as much as we do. And no one wants to win more than Coach. I don't think any other team will beat them before we do."

"Yeah, Canada won't win today. Besides, I heard right now they're down by two," Mac said.

"They just tied it up," Maddie said, having heard the recent score update just minutes before."

"Seriously?" Rizzo asked.

"Well, whatever happens, I just hope we play the Soviets last," said Silky.

"Do you guys want to wait around for the end of the Sweden and Czech game?" Jack asked.

All of the guys agreed to stay, but Maddie went back to her room with Izzy. She didn't feel like staying there and waiting. She would rather not worry about it anymore right then. On her way back she ran into her dad, who had been walking around the town.

"Hi dad."

"Hi Maddie, and Isabelle," he said bending down to the baby's level. "Any word on when Jack's going to be able to play?"

"No. Hopefully Friday though. Doc's going to see how things are then. He is feeling a lot better though."

"Good. I hope for his sake he gets to play."

"Me too. Right now, he's really frustrated not being able to play. He has gotten better though, but right now, the guys are all really stressed about playing the Russians. They're arguing and fighting, and it's not for any other reason than they're really nervous."

"I can imagine," Maddie's dad said in response. "What are you and Jack doing for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Well, I'm not doing anything. Jack isn't either, unless he's patiently awaiting the announcement for the medal round games," Maddie said with some sarcasm and a smile.

"If he's around, why don't you guys meet us for breakfast tomorrow," he said, the 'us' referring to Maddie's family.

"Okay. I'll definitely meet you guys no matter what. I'll ask Jack later."

"Okay." Maddie and her dad talked a few more minutes, and then Izzy began crying. Maddie picked her up and tried to quiet her down.

"Shhh. It's okay," Maddie said, rubbing the baby's back. "I know, you're hungry. We'll go back to the room right now and I'll feed you." Maddie's dad watched her daughter, smiling, noticing what a great mom she made.

"I'll let you two go," Maddie's dad said. "See you later. Bye Izzy," he said, giving his granddaughter a kiss on her head.

"Bye dad."

Maddie took Izzy back to the room and fed her while she was waiting for Jack to come back. Izzy was fast asleep by the time Jack returned.

"Hey," Maddie said from the bed where she was watching tv.

"Hi," Jack said. He sat on the bed next to Maddie and sighed. "I'm exhausted."

"You better get some sleep. Before practice we're going out for breakfast with my family."

"What? You've gotta be kidding. Not tomorrow, Maddie. They're announcing the medal round games tomorrow. I have to get to the rink early."

"You won't miss out by not being the first to know what's going on. Chances are they won't even make the announcement until later in the morning."

"Well, I'm not going to breakfast with you tomorrow."

"I never said you had to."

"You're pretty much forcing me to go," Jack said, a little loud.

"Jack, I'm not forcing you. I don't really care either way. But could you please keep it down? I just got Izzy to sleep," Maddie said, getting up to get ready for bed.

"I'm not even being loud," Jack said, also getting up, and not bothering with his crutches. "Why are you trying to start something tonight? Just because I won't go to breakfast because I have more important things to do than spend quality time with your family?" Jack sort of followed Maddie around the room, taking off his shirt and grabbing pajama pants. "I don't even have time to spend with my family, let alone yours," Jack said with a slight edge, and his voice getting louder and almost to the point of yelling. Maddie was sure he was going to wake the baby up. Sure enough, Izzy began crying. She turned around and looked at Jack.

"Guess what? You just won the opportunity to get Izzy back to sleep. Good luck with that," Maddie said and then paused for a minute. "Jack, just because you're stressed out and worried doesn't mean you need to take things out on me," she said before walking away. Maddie went into the bathroom and slammed the door. It wasn't that Maddie was mad at Jack, because she knew he was going through a lot, but she wanted him to stop acting like the world revolved around him.

While Maddie was in the bathroom, Jack quickly finished getting dressed and went over to get Izzy. He picked her up and brought her back to the bed and began rocking her.

"Shhh. I'm sorry I woke you up. It's okay. Go back to sleep." Jack continued rocking her and softly talking to her. "Mommy's right. I shouldn't be acting like anything is her fault. Daddy's just very, very stressed out right now. You're lucky to be a baby and not have a worry in the world." Izzy slowly started drifting off to sleep again in Jack's arms.

Just as Jack started getting up to put Izzy back in her crib, Maddie came out of the bathroom.

"Here, I'll take her," Maddie said, taking the baby and setting her in the crib. "You should still be using your crutches by the way."

"I know, I know," Jack said as Maddie climbed into bed next to him. Jack put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, and then kissed her temple.

"I'm sorry that I was a little on edge earlier. I'm just stressed and frustrated and excited and . . . so many other things I can't even begin to name everything right now." Maddie turned on her side to face Jack and rested her arm on his bare chest.

"Nervous," Maddie said as more of a statement than a question. Jack looked at her and his first thought was to immediately say no, but he knew Maddie could see right through him.

"Yeah. I'm scared to death actually," Jack said, running his free hand through his hair. "The sad part is, I'm scared and I might only be watching it," he said with a sigh, mixed with relief and frustration.

"Does it feel good to let it off your chest?" Maddie asked sensing relief for finally admitting fear, and frustration for being scared over possibly just watching the game.

"Yeah. I guess this is the first time I've admitted that I'm scared."

"It's okay to be scared, baby. I'm scared for you guys. But you're all thinking about the game way too much for your own good. Whatever happens, happens. Try to relax a little at least until Friday."

"Easier said than done, but I'll try."

"I love you," Maddie said with a smile.

"I love you too," Jack said before they shared a kiss.

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The next morning, Maddie met her family for breakfast and Jack went to find some of the guys. He wanted to see if an announcement had been made before he went for breakfast. It hadn't yet, so Jack tried to remember what Maddie said and not think about it. That was very hard to do when all Maddie's dad talked about at breakfast was the upcoming medal round.

Fortunately, just before the guys had practiced, they found out who their next opponent would be. They were playing the Soviets at five the next evening. Even though they all knew facing the Russians was inevitable, having it official made it that much more real. During practice, they skated just as hard, but the whole time, tomorrow's game was in the back of their mind.

Maddie could tell there was something different about the team after practice in the locker room. They were still joking around and having fun, but there was also a weird feeling in the air and everyone had the same thing hanging over them.

After the guys finished showering and changing, they had to meet their families for dinner. The entire team, including Herb, Craig, Doc, and the guys families were having a big dinner together. Maddie was excited because she was finally going to be able to meet a lot of the guys parents she had heard a lot about over the last seven months. Doc had actually set the dinner up so the guys families could all meet one another and everyone could have a nice dinner and last night before they played the Soviets.

They met in a banquet hall at a restaurant and for a while Maddie walked around to introduce herself to parents. She noticed a man who looked a lot like Bah and went over.

"You must be Mr. Harrington," she said. The man had been standing with a few other parents, presumably parents of the other Minnesota guys.

"Yes, and I'm guessing you're Maddie," he said, sticking out his hand. The other people introduced themselves as well, including Bah's mother, Phil's parents, and Rammer's parents.

"This must be Isabelle," said Bah's mother, looking at Izzy.

"Yes it is."

"She's beautiful. We heard a lot about this little one." Maddie smiled.

"Maddie!" someone said from behind her. Maddie turned around to see Mrs. Eruzione.

"How are you?" Maddie asked, giving her a hug. She had met Rizzo's mom a few years prior, just after she met Jack and Rizzo. Rizzo invited some guys from the team, including Maddie and her roommate over for dinner. His mom also made famous meatballs, though hers were more edible.

"I'm good. And how are you? I heard all about the baby, and I've been dying to meet her myself." Mrs. Eruzione looked at the baby, and Maddie then let her hold Izzy.

"She's so precious. I can't wait until Mike meets a girl. I want a granddaughter."

"I'm sure he'll meet someone soon enough."

"Are there any prospects?" Mrs. Eruzione asked. Maddie laughed. Almost everytime she talked to Rizzo's mom, she asked about his love life.

"Are you bothering Maddie for gossip on Mike again?" Mr. Eruzione asked, walking up behind his wife.

"I'm just wondering," she said, innocently.

"Well, I know he met someone, and Jack thought she seemed nice, but I haven't met her."

"Is she here?"

"No, she's actually from Minnesota, but I think they're still sort of together."

"What's her name?" Mrs. Eruzione asked with her eyes lit up, clearly interested.

"Kelly." Rizzo's mom nodded.

"That's enough now," Rizzo's dad said. "Give Maddie her baby back so she can go meet other people and tell other mom's all about their son's behavior," he said, jokingly. Mrs. Eruzione handed Maddie the baby back and said she'd see Maddie later.

Maddie chatted with a few other parents and some of the guys until dinner was ready. She even noticed Herb laughing and having a good time talking with the guys parents. Maddie was glad everyone was having a good time before tomorrow.

"So Maddie, have you been taking care of all of the boys?" Phil's mother asked.

"Mom," Phil said, standing next to his mother and rolling his eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at your mother," Maddie said, joking. "They might get stuck that way," she joked, in order to prove the point that she kept the guys in line. Phil's mother picked up on it and laughed.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Maddie was talking to a group of guys and just before she sat down for dinner, she had to find Jack. A little while before she saw him, but since then she hadn't. He took Izzy to show her off to some parents just after Maddie saw Rizzo's mother.

"Well, I'll see you guys later. Make sure you eat lots of spaghetti," Maddie said. "And no alcohol."

The guys all nodded and answered "yeah," in tones that said they already knew that. It wasn't the first time Maddie had reminded them about eating spaghetti the night before a big game. Maddie walked around to find Jack, and very surprisingly, he was sitting with Mac, Laura, Mac's parents and his parents. What an odd combination, Maddie thought. Especially with their history.

Maddie walked over and sat down, at the space Jack saved for her.

"Hi," she said, greeting everyone at the table. They all responded and then continued with their conversations. Mac and Jack's parents were getting along really well.

"This is interesting," Maddie said to the two guys.

"Yeah. Who would've though? I guess we're all good friends now or something," said Mac.

"I wouldn't count on it," Jack joked. "Being good friends implies that we'd go out of our way to be nice to one another. Maybe we're friends, but let's not overstate things with any extra adjectives." Both Maddie and Laura laughed.

Once everyone was done with dinner, most of the parents chatted for a little while and the guys began heading back to their rooms. Herb made a joke about the guys having a curfew, so they wouldn't be tired the next day.

"But the game's at five," said Bah quietly to Mark and Pav.

"Do you think I care?" asked Herb, who heard him. He pretended to be serious. "Be in bed by eleven, we have an early practice tomorrow. Any don't think about making anymore comments, or I'll have to get out the whip." The guys that had heard this laughed. They weren't used to seeing Herb joke around and being in this good of a mood very often. Their guess was that he was just trying to relax before the next game like they were. In less than twenty-four hours, everyone would know if the US team had what it took to beat the Soviets.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed . . . now go review! lol Next chapter will be the big game! Again, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) and Santa brings you everything you want! ; )