"Nicky, stop", Alana squealed as Niklas tickled her from behind. This was a few days later and Alana and her parents had decided to visit the boys at practice. Laughing, Niklas stopped and gave her a hug instead. "I'm sorry, Lannie", he said into her ear. Alana giggled. "It's okay, Nicky. I know you didn't mean it", she replied, turning her head to meet Niklas' blue eyes. Niklas smiled and kissed her cheek, causing her to giggle again. Her head cuddled into his shoulder and Niklas's arms wrapped around her, holding her close to him. "Nicky, can I see your IPod", she asked after a few minutes of quiet. Niklas picked up the girl and carried her to his locker, sitting down in the stool with her in his lap. "Are you gonna pick a U2 song, Lannie", he asked. Alana nodded. "Of course I am, Nicky. I love their songs, you know that", she said. Niklas smiled and glanced around the locker room. Carol and Tyler weren't there, but he realized they were probably out in the hallway talking. He glanced back down at Alana, who had her thumb over "Out of Control". She glanced up at Niklas, as if asking for his permission to play the song. "I like that one, Lannie. Play it". She pressed on the song and Niklas plugged it into the speakers. As the mix of drums and guitar rolled over the locker room, Alana sat on Niklas's lap, tapping her foot. As soon as Bono started singing, though, she started singing along with him. "Monday morning, eighteen years of the war. I say how long (how long), I say how long (how long?) It was one of doil, woke the world with boil, I was so sad (so sad) they were so glad", she sang. Niklas couldn't help but laugh as Alana sang and played air guitar along with the song. It was moments like this where he forgot she even had cancer. Her greens eyes were bright, her lips curved into a smile as she carefully danced to the music. Alana, Niklas thought, was a very pretty little girl. He was broken from his thoughts by a tiny squeal. He looked up to see Alana on the floor near Hank's locker. He went over to her and knelt beside her. "Lannie, are you okay", he asked, worry etched on his face. He knew how delicate she was with the cancer so he had to double-check to make sure she wasn't seriously hurt. "Yes, I'm fine. I just bumped into the stool. Nothing major", Alana replied, sounding more like a twelve-year-old than a five-year-old. Niklas helped her up and checked over her for any signs of bruises. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found none. Seconds later, he was smiling at the sight of Alana singing along to U2's 'Bad'. "If you twist and turn away, if you tear yourself in two again", she sang. Niklas smiled and picked her up, settling her firmly on his hip. "Why do you like U2, Alana", Hank asked, looking up. Alana thought for a minute. "Well, for two reasons. One, I can dance to their songs and I love the music. Two, some of their songs, such as Bad, have a powerful message behind them", she said, again sounding older than she really was. Niklas shook his head: he loved this girl. "You are very smart, Alana", he said, kissing her cheek. She giggled again and fingered the beard her friend was sporting. "I love you", she said. Niklas felt his heart warming up. He heard them all the time: from his parents, brothers, girlfriend(s), cousins and (playfully) his teammates, but this was a young girl with cancer that was in his heart telling him that. "I love you too, Lannie", he whispered.
"So she's a special girl, isn't she", Niklas younger brother, Staffan, asked as he sat down at his brother's kitchen table. Staffan had come over from Sweden to visit his older brother for a few days. He'd heard about Alana before-bits and pieces, actually-but this was the first time he'd heard the full story. "Yes she is, Staf. She's very special. I love her". Staffan smiled and twisted the beer bottle in his hand. "She sounds like she's close to your heart." Niklas smiled and sat in the chair across from his brother, twisting his own beer bottle. "Actually, Staf, she's weaved her way into my heart. Not a lot of people manage to do that, but she did and I'd known her for… a little less than a day. And with those green eyes, her cute little smile and her personality, she'll be a heart-breaker for boys one day." The two brothers sat quickly for a while before the text ring on Niklas' phone went off. He answered it and saw that it was from Carol. I know you're hanging out with your brother, but Alana really wants to see you. She made something for you. Niklas smiled and sent a text back. Are you guys in the hospital? Seconds later, a reply came. No. We're at home but Alana insists that we come to your house. Is that ok with you? Niklas glanced up at his brother, who was watching him curiously before sending a reply. That'd be great! See ya in a few! "Who was that?" "Carol, Alana's mother. Alana made something for me and she wants to see me. She's coming over here." Staffan smiled. "That's great! I finally get to meet the little girl who captured your heart." Minutes later, the doorbell rang. Niklas answered it and immediately Alana jumped into his arms. "Nicky, I made something for you", she said, happiness in her voice. Niklas kissed her cheek. "Show me inside." He let her parents in and all of them walked to the kitchen table. Staffan looked up as they came in. "So this is the young lady who's been taking over my brother's heart", she said. Niklas laughed and set Alana standing up on his chair, his one arm around her waist to steady her. "This is her, alright. Alana, meet my brother…" "Staffan. You used to play for Ottawa", Alana finished. Staffan's eyes widened. "How did you know that?" Alana smiled. "Your brother told me." Niklas introduced Carol and Tyler and the three of them started talking almost instantly. A tug on his shirt brought Niklas back to the young girl in front of him. "This is a picture I made for you, Nicky. See, it's us in the locker room", Alana said, handing Niklas the paper. Niklas glanced over the picture before kissing the side of Alana's head. "This is a great picture, sweetie. Thank you", he said. Alana reached up for him and Niklas picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you when you leave on your road trip", she said. "I know you will, Lannie. I'll miss you, too. But we can still call and text and face time each other." Alana pushed her head off his shoulder and met Niklas's blue eyes. "Will you score for me", she asked in the cutest way possible. "Only if you promise to be a good girl", Niklas replied. Alana shook her head. "I'm always good", she reminded him. Niklas laughed again. "I know you are. Do you want to go hang up my picture?" Alana nodded. Niklas set her on the floor and took her by the hand, leading her into his room. "Now, where should I tape it", he asked Alana as she climbed up onto his head. "Right there", she replied, pointing at the spot right above the head dresser. Niklas climbed onto the bed next to her and taped it right where she'd directed. "I think that's the perfect place for it, Lannie", he said, turning back to the girl at his side. But he realized that Alana was sprawled out next to him, fast asleep. He smiled and brushed his hand down the smooth skin of her cheek before picking her up bridal-style in his arms. Her head turned into his chest and her small hand clutched the front of his shirt. He carried her downstairs and sat back down at his spot with her in his lap. "She fell asleep, didn't she", Carol asked. Niklas nodded. Tyler sighed and walked to Niklas's side. "We should get her home so she can sleep", he said, reaching down to take his daughter. Niklas carefully slid Alana into his arms and smiled when she curled into his chest. "Daddy's girl", he said. Good-byes were exchanged and soon the only people left in the house were Niklas and Staffan. "What did you think, Staf", Niklas asked, grabbing another beer for Staffan. "She's an adorable kid. And she's so full of energy, so unexpected from someone who's got cancer. And she really loves you, I could see that. Her parents are great people and they have a lot of hope for her even with everything they've been though." Niklas smiled. "Yep, every word you said is correct. Alana is a very special girl… and I wouldn't have it any other way".