Sorry this took forever. Once again the Ducks aren't mine.

Chapter 47: My Yellow Rose

"Portman." The monitor called.

"Ma'am?" He asked.

"You have sixty seconds." She turned her back and looked up at the clock. Dean pulled me up and kissed me hard with his hands resting on my back. "Alright enough." She called. Dean pulled back and the wolf whistles slowly subsided.

"Wow." Was all I could say when I opened my eyes and smiled up at him.

"Glad to see I haven't lost my touch." He said helping me back into my seat.

"And it makes me happy to see you still care about her." Bash said. I wondered how or when he had come over for a moment then shook it off.

"Hey Bash, who got me the white box?" I asked.

"Alex, said that he was certain you'd love it but the rest of us weren't sure. Why?"

"Because I can't stand either one nor do I like coconut for future reference." I said.

"I figured."

"I can't believe you all signed that ball." Dean said as I picked at the rest of my flowers.

Turns out there were a couple from the baseball team, a few from some guys in my art class, one from Scooter with a side note from Rick, and a couple from the Hockey team. The last one made me laugh so much I had to show it to Dean.

'To the "mother" of my baby boy, Happy V-Day. See you at practice, su dios español.'

Even Dean cracked a smile so I untied the note from the flower and tied it to the car seat. "I have one insane teammate." Dean said.

"I think it's sweet."

"Of course you do." He said shortly.

"But I like you more."

"Alright."

Finally it was time for practice. We were about halfway through when Dean suddenly skated to the wall and everyone else slowly came to a stop.

"Portman, you better not be interrupting my practice." Orion said.

"No sir. Not me. But they are for Lizzy." Dean said. I looked at him then back at the wall. There was a guy standing there with a dozen yellow roses.

"Lizzy's got an admirer." Goldberg taunted.

I swallowed hard and looked at the team for a moment before looking back at the guy with the flowers. "This has happened for the past two years. Since we moved to Texas, every year on Valentine's Day I'd get a dozen yellow roses and I don't know who they're from." I explained.

Dean and Fulton shared a look but I turned and went to get them.

"Can you tell me who sent them?" I asked.

"Usually helps to read the card. I just deliver the flowers. Most of the time it says who sent it in the card." I took the card.

"My sweet, yellow rose, Happy Valentine's Day and good luck on your games. Love me."

"Thanks." I told the man. I took the flowers and went back to the bench. "Fresh cut flowers." I muttered when I noticed the stems. I set them on the bench and then looked back at the team.

"Well, who are they from?" Orion asked.

"I don't know. There wasn't a name. I thought it was someone in Texas but...now I'm not too sure."

"Well then back to work." Orion snapped. We continued to practice but my mind wasn't completely there. Finally Orion called us to him. "Where is your head?" He asked me.

"I apologize I thought it wouldn't bother me but it is, a bit." I couldn't figure out why it was bothering me so much. Maybe it was the thought that the guy could have followed me from Texas to here or maybe it was because I felt like I was missing something but I just couldn't tell.

"I guess that's my fault then." A male voice answered.

I looked around the arena and saw "Matt." I said.

"Hey kid." He said coming out on the ice. I skated to him and he wrapped me in a hug. "Those are from me. And I'm sorry to throw you off."

"It's alright. I think I'll be ok now, Coach." I said turning back to face Orion.

"What gives you the right to interrupt my practice?" Orion snapped at my brother.

Matt put a hand on my shoulder keeping me calm as he looked at Orion. "I'm sorry Coach, I had forgotten she had practice today otherwise I would have sent them later around dinner. I apologize. I know how important practice can be especially for those who aim to become professionals in the sport like Lizzy here." Matt said.

I looked back at Orion and he seemed to be buying it.

"That still doesn't explain who you are and why you're interrupting my practice." Orion said.

"My name's Matt Johnson. I'm her oldest brother and like I said I had forgotten that her practice was today."

"Johnson?" Orion asked.

"It's my mom's maiden name." I said.

"What did you say about professional hockey?" Orion asked.

"It's her dream and I'm sorry for disrupting a practice that could be vital to fulfilling that dream." Matt said.

"A woman play professional hockey?" Orion asked disbelievingly.

"Se lei può sognarlo, lei può farlo." I said.

"What does that mean?"

"My Italian's rusty but I believe she said 'If you can dream it, you can do it'." Dean said.

"I'm impressed." Matt said.

"Me too. My granddad used to say that. I guess it must be true because my granddad moved over here from Italy and played minor league ball. And my brother here plays hockey for the Redwings."

"Detroit?" Orion asked.

"Yeah. You know I used to follow your career. I wanted to play for the North Stars but then they moved to Dallas and I moved to Detroit. You were good. Bet you still are." Matt said.

"Matt, we need to go." Another voice called. I looked over to see Brad standing there.

Then I looked back at Matt.

"Sorry, he's my ride. I'll see you later kiddo." Matt said.

"Bye Matt." I answered.

"Charlie."

"Matt." Charlie answered. Then Matt was gone.

"Hit the showers." Orion said.

When I got out of the shower I got dressed and then Anna gave me Antonio before leaving. I walked over to the boys' locker room and waited outside. I was minding my own business entertaining Ant, who seemed to be enjoying it, when Crystal happened to show up. I took a few deep breaths and then went back to entertaining the baby. I really didn't want to start a fight after all I had just pissed off Orion but I didn't want to lose Dean either. Then it occurred to me. She liked him a lot and she was here after practice, maybe she was the one that sent the flower.

"Deam..." I gritted out.

"Jacobs." Crystal answered coolly. Then Kenny came out with Dwayne.

"Oh. Uh, Luis and Port are on their way out." Kenny said when he noticed me.

I smiled and nodded. "Thanks." I said. Luis was the next one out the door. "Hello my Spanish God." I said.

"Does Port know that's what I said?"

"No, well I don't think so. Either way he knows you're just my friend. Anyway it's your turn." I said motioning to the baby.

Luis cringed. "My turn...Lizzy, about that..." Luis bit his lip trailing off.

"Luis." I said.

"Please, just a few more hours. I...I asked Anna to go out with me tonight."

"Luis."

"Please, I'm begging you. I'll do anything for you; I'll get down on my knees and beg. Please. Give me this chance with Anna."

"Oooh, trouble in paradise?" Crystal asked.

I closed my eyes and sighed. "This is none of your business, stay out of it." I said.

"But I don't like to see two people who should be so happy, fighting." She said.

"Don't you have a boyfriend to bother?" I asked.

"He went crawling back to the—"

"Crystal." Luis said cutting off any insult she was about to say.

"That Amanda girl. Pathetic." Crystal said.

"Hey sweetheart." Dean said. "There isn't a problem is there?"

"A slight one." I said.

"What's up man?" He asked turning to Luis.

"I asked Anna out to this new restaurant down on Third, the one that just opened a month ago. Unfortunately I also forgot that I was supposed to take Ant tonight."

Dean wrapped an arm around me and looked at Luis. "That's not a problem. Lizzy and I'll take him." Dean said.

"We will? It's Valentines Day." I said looking up at him.

"Remember what you told me yesterday? That you didn't want me to make a big deal out of this?" Dean said. "A pizza, some movies, some soda, and a night cuddling with my beautiful girlfriend. Could you ask for more?"

"I guess not."

"I'm real—I apologize Lizzy. I'll make this up to you, I promise." Luis said.

"It's not a big deal Luis, one tiny inconvenience is not a big deal." Dean said.

Now I felt really bad. "Look Luis, Dean's right. I didn't want a big deal and now I'm ruining yours. It's fine Luis." I said.

"You are beyond amazing." Luis kissed my cheek then rushed down the hall. I turned back to Dean and sighed.

"It's just a project and I don't want to fight with you but I think you overreacted." He said.

I rolled my shoulders uncomfortably. "Maybe I did. You gonna hold it against me?" I asked angrily.

"Of course not." Dean rolled his eyes then shook his head. "You're a complicated girl." He sighed heavily. "But I'm bound and determined to make this work. And don't even start it, Crystal. The only person I'm doing anything with tonight is my girlfriend, Lizzy Jacobs." Dean took my hand and led me away from Crystal.

When we got back to the dorm and into my room he looked at me. "Yes, I'm ok." I answered. I sat the car seat down on my spare bed and then placed the yellow roses in the vase with the carnations I had gotten earlier. I turned back to looks at him and saw him contemplating something.

"So what's this about there being more to my gift? If it's something like this," he kissed me, "it'd fall perfectly in line with the rest of my surprise for you."

"Well if you mean the kiss that's exactly what I had in mind." I said. I lay down on my bed and smiled up at him as I crooked my finger. He lay down beside me and pulled me into his arms kissing me heatedly.

A piercing wail brought me out of my kiss influenced stupor and back to my surroundings. I pushed Dean off of me and quickly changed the baby's diaper. When the baby had fallen back asleep the silence got awkward. I looked down at myself and realized I didn't have a shirt or socks on. It wasn't odd that I wasn't wearing shoes as I didn't like to wear them but the rest was. I scratched my forehead and then turned around to face Dean with my arms over my chest.

"I'm sorry." He said. "And I apologize." He reached down and grabbed his Morgan Park jersey and handed it to me. I pulled it on as Dean buttoned his pants. That's when I had realized how far we had gotten.

"I shouldn't have let it get this far." I said. "Dean-"

"Lizzy-" he said at the same time. "You first."

"Dean...I'm scared." I said. He stood and I knew he would come over to me. "Stay there, please." He nodded. "I'm so scared because I've never felt this away about any guy before and the thought that we could go that far and the only thing that stopped us was a project...that's really scary. What if there wasn't a distraction like that and we—we went too far? I'm not ready Dean."

"I know and I'm sorry. I'm not ready either. I don't want to push you too far and I'm sorry I pushed passed your limits. Look I love you. More than any girl before." Dean ran a hand through his hair then looked at the floor for a moment. "Why don't I go order us a pizza and I'll see you when it gets here. Alright? I think we both need time to cool off."

"Ok, thank you." I said. He left the room and I sighed heavily and sat down on my bed.

Less than five minutes later Julie and Connie entered my room and sat down on the opposite bed.

"Are you ok?" Julie asked.

"We thought you and Dean were going out to go do something but...it looks like he was just headed for a shower." Connie added.

"A cold one probably." I said drawing my legs up and wrapping my arms around them.

"What happened?" Connie asked.

"If you don't mind telling us." Julie said.

"We...We just got a bit over our heads." I ran a hand through my hair then scratched my forehead.

"You know you both do that?" Connie said suddenly.

"Do what?" I asked.

"Scratch your forehead with the side of your finger when you're nervous. You and Charlie both." Connie explained.

"Bad habit. My brother Chris does it too." I said. "We were just making out and things got heated...I...I don't know. You don't think...You don't think he'll consider me a tease because of this do you?"

"Of course not." Connie said.

"Yeah. I mean he gave you space to calm down and he didn't cancel your plans. Did he?" Julie asked.

"Naw he said he was going to go cool off and see me when the pizza gets here." I said.

"Oh well...see he's just as worried about this as you are. He gave you space to calm down and although he may be a little disappointed, he won't hold it against you. You know most guys would just continue to push for more but he gave you room to calm down." Julie said.

"You think?" I asked.

"I know." Julie said.

"And Port even told you in front of most of the Ducks and your family that he wouldn't hurt you. He wouldn't go back on that now. That's not the Port we know." Connie said.

"Also you were able to stop it. That means he's not completely in control. And that's a good thing. Most girls think that Port has to be completely control when it comes to relationship. This definitely disproves that. We've seen several times that you do what you want and he never pushes you into something you don't want." Julie said.

"Thanks girls." I said. They nodded and after making sure I was really ok for the most part they left me alone. I sat there calming down for a while longer until Dean walked back in.

"Hey. Everything alright? Or should I come back later?" Dean asked.

"I think I'm ok. Is it true you need to be in control of your relationships?" I asked.

"No." He said simply. "I love you and I know that for this to work we have to be equal. I let you up because I knew you needed that space. Honey, I'm in this for you. I do like control but not to the extreme point in my relationships. I'm new to this but I'm trying my best to listen and do what you want."

"Thank you, that means so much." I said. We watched TV until the pizza man arrived.

"I've got a pizza here for Dean Portman." He said when we met him at the door.

"Ooo, pizza. Dean, babe, pay the man." I said.

The man handed me the pizza and I slowly walked back down the hall in my socks.

"Whoa, I seriously hope you're getting something from that smokin' girl." The pizza guy said.

"Wouldn't you like to know? Keep the change." Dean answered. He was a smart guy and knew exactly how to answer that. I smiled and went in my room.

Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.